[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 137 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO CONRAD RICHARD GAGNON, JR., AND MAUREEN E. CONNELLY

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to 
honor Conrad Richard Gagnon, Jr., and Maureen E. Connelly who were 
named finalists in the second annual Samsung American Legion 
Scholarship Program.
  The scholarship program is funded by a $5 million endowment from the 
Samsung Group, an international company based in South Korea, and is 
administered by the American Legion, the world's largest veterans 
organization. Only direct decedents of U.S. wartime veterans are 
eligible for the scholarships.
  Conrad and Maureen are among many other outstanding young Americans 
named as finalists to compete for 1 of 10 college scholarships, each 
worth $20,000. The students were judged on the basis of their 
involvement in their school and community, and for their academic 
achievements.
  Conrad is a native of Bedford, NH, and is currently in his senior 
year of high school. He is the son of Conrad and Gisele Gagnon, and has 
three bothers: Brian, Tim, and Dan. His grandfather, Richard Adalard 
Gagnon, is a World War Two veteran.
  Conrad has distinguished himself by achieving excellent grades, as 
well as being involved in numerous and varied activities. He is an 
associate editor of his school year book, a member of his school's math 
team, and French club. He has been awarded the Boy Scouts Order of the 
Arrow, and will travel to California and Japan this summer on the Sony 
Student Abroad scholarship. Conrad also participates in community 
service activities such as peer tutoring, food drives, and was involved 
in organizing an effort to place over 100 of his peers in volunteer 
positions. He would like to study engineering and law in college.
  Maureen is a resident of Greenland, NH. She attends Portsmouth High 
School. She is the daughter of Mark and Marian Connelly, and she has a 
sister Carolyn, and a brother Steven. Her grandfather, Quentin Dante 
Halstead, served on active duty in World War Two, the Korean war, and 
the Vietnam war.
  Maureen has earned outstanding grades in honors and advance placement 
classes. She is also very active on her school's field hockey team and 
track team. In addition she is a member of student government, serving 
in the capacity of treasurer, as well as a member of the school 
newspaper staff. Maureen volunteers her time to teach young children 
field hockey and at a local hospital, she also maintains a job as a 
lifeguard. She is a senior in high school and would like to be a 
doctor.
  Young men and women such as Conrad and Maureen are a valuable asset 
to New Hampshire and the future of the United States. I congratulate 
them on all their hard work and wish them success in their future 
endeavors.

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