[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 55 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3918-S3919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE CENTRAL/DELPHI FIRST TEAM

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
achievements of a remarkable group from my home State of Michigan. A 
team of students from Pontiac Central High School and engineers from 
Delphi Interior and Lighting Systems won two national

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awards at the prestigious FIRST [For Inspiration and Recognition of 
Science and Technology] competition held April 10-12 in Orlando, FL.
  The Central/Delphi team received the tournament trophy as a finalist 
in the robotics competition, and the team also won the competition's 
highest honor, the Chairman's Award, given to the most comprehensive 
school-corporate partnership program among the 155 competitors. As 
Chairman's Award winners, the team will be honored by President Clinton 
at a Rose Garden reception.
  The Central/Delphi FIRST team helps to open young minds to science, 
mathematics, and technology. Pontiac Central students also have an 
opportunity to work at Delphi during the summer, which helps them 
continue learning outside of school and gain valuable on-the-job 
training. The innovative CADET program, an extension of Central/Delphi 
FIRST, uses unique activities to promote the fun of math, science and 
technology to students at seven elementary and junior high schools. As 
the presenter of the Chairman's Award said, ``The judges believe that 
this team has turned many children on to science and math. Through 
their strong partnership, FIRST became the avenue for an entire school 
of talented students to reach personal success.''
  The success of the Central/Delphi team and the FIRST program in 
general is a powerful example of what educators and corporations can do 
to improve opportunities for our young men and women. I commend Delphi 
Interior and Lighting for their commitment to education. I am proud of 
the talented students who achieved so much at this prestigious 
competition. I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the 
young men and women of Pontiac Central High School and the employees of 
Delphi Interior and Lighting for their achievements at the sixth annual 
FIRST competition.

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