[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 87 (Friday, June 20, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PLANTATION SCHOOL

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                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 20, 1997

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the team from 
the Plantation Key School from the Florida Keys which was recently 
awarded a top prize in the worldwide Odssey of the Mind competition 
held at the University of Maryland.
  In March the team won first place in Florida's statewide Odyssey of 
the Mind competition, thus qualifying them to represent Florida in the 
18th annual world finals competition in early June. At the worldwide 
level, the team competed against 5,000 students representing 740 
schools from across the United States and throughout the world. More 
than one million students participate each year in localized 
competitions before the winners are selected to compete in the 
international finals.
  The Plantation School group surpassed 54 U.S. and international teams 
in their division to receive the top award for exceptional creativity 
in team problem solving. Only 7 of the 740 participating teams were 
given this award.
  Team members received individual gold medals at an awards ceremony 
attended by more than 20,000 spectators. In addition, team members' 
names will appear on a trophy on permanent display in the Explorer's 
Hall at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, DC. 
The Gold Medalist student team members are Tehani Pestalozzi, Sarah 
Otto-Fitzdam, Jamie Shiereck, Kerry Clark, Leah Ekblom, Grant Turner, 
and Michael Ratliff.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud these students for months of diligent work and 
for their excellent representation of Florida in this unique 
international competition. Also to be commended is the team's longtime 
teacher and coordinator, Harriet Robbins, along with the team's 
coaches, parents, and school principal, Sandi Bisceglia, who gave their 
time and support.




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