[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 66 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E933-E934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         JASON ESPIRITU, GUAM'S NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY BEE FINALIST

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 1998

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, for the last couple of days, Washington, 
D.C. played host to 57 state-level winners from all over America as 
they vie to win the 1998 National Geography Bee. Celebrating its 10th 
anniversary, the National Geography Bee was developed in response to 
concern about lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the 
United States. The finalists range from ages 11 to 15. Each rose above 
a field of about 5 million students in order to earn a place in the 
10th annual national championships. The finals were held on May 19th 
and 20th hosted for the 10th consecutive year by Jeopardy's Alex 
Trebek.
  The state level winners represent all 50 states, the District of 
Columbia, the five U.S. territories--American Samoa, Guam, the Northern 
Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands--and the 
Department of Defense Schools. Twelve of the 57 students are repeat 
state winners. Ten others competed in the 1997 finals. Among them, 
Jason Espiritu, is from my home Island of Guam and I am proud to 
announce that he finished in the top ten.
  Jason, a seventh grade student at St. Anthony's School in Tamuning, 
is the son of Virgilio and Amelia Espiritu. As you may have guessed, 
his favorite subjects in school are Social Studies and Geography. To 
prepare for the competition he employed a number of reference materials 
such as atlases, almanacs, news magazines and National Geographic 
videos. His fine performance could be contributed to preparation and 
his every day habits of

[[Page E934]]

reading newspapers and keeping up with current events. The facts that 
he is hearing-impaired never prevented Jason from doing well and making 
Guam proud.
  On behalf of the people of Guam, I congratulate Jason Espiritu on his 
very fine performance. We commend his efforts towards excellence and 
expect no less from him in the years to come.

                          ____________________