[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO THE EL CAMINO REAL HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM

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                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 1997

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional group 
of individuals from my congressional district, the El Camino Real High 
School Academic Decathlon team. This team not only won the local and 
State competitions, but this last weekend competed in St. George, UT 
where they finished second in the national competition.
  This is not the first time that El Camino Real has competed for this 
national honor. El Camino Real has won the California Academic 
Decathlon three times, and this was the school's third appearance in 
the national competition since 1992. This kind of continued success can 
only be attributed to diligence, hard work, and perseverance. Indeed, 
this impressive history speaks volumes about the individuals that we 
are honoring here today from the coaches, parents, friends, and of 
course students who were willing to sacrifice and give the extra 
effort.
  Yet hard work alone does not explain their success as this group 
exemplifies the word teamwork. The team consists of nine students, two 
coaches, and seven faculty assistants compelled by the rigorous nature 
of this competition to study, train, and act as a cohesive unit. The 
manner in which points are accumulated in the Academic Decathlon 
competition requires every team member to make a significant 
contribution; indeed, the team is only as strong as its weakest link. 
Through their cooperation and hard work, the team has learned that 
self-sacrifice can lead to excellence. I believe our ability to enter 
and contribute to these types of relationships both as families and 
communities is key to our future.
  Finally Mr. Speaker, I am proud to note that this track record of 
academic excellence is found in one of our public schools. We 
continuously hear about the problems facing the Nation's public 
education system, and although there are many obstacles and they are 
daunting, I believe they can be overcome. Many of the qualities that 
made this team successful can be used throughout our schools, such as 
hard work in a team atmosphere and looking to peers for support and 
accountability.
  This team consists of nine students: Steve Chae, Michal Engelman, 
Robert Magee, Tamara Miller, Michael Montgomery, Jacqueline Moses, 
Roger Rees, Dawn Robinson, and Adi Zarchi. The faculty assistants are 
James Centorino, Charles Doherty, Rebecca Gessert, Jerry Hickman, Mark 
Johnson, Jack Liebel, Naomi McCoy, Lillian Ruben, and Shukla Sarkar; 
the team is led by head coaches Sharon Markenson and David Roberson. 
Principal Ronald Bauer's guidance and support was another critical 
ingredient in the team's success. I commend not only the El Camino Real 
team, but every individual involved in similar academic pursuits. As 
educator John Dewey noted, ``Education is not preparation for life, 
education is life itself.''
  Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to represent such outstanding young 
people, as they are truly the future of this great Nation.

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