[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            A TRIBUTE TO MEGAN JOHNSTON-COX & IRENE SORENSON

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 1998

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your 
attention the fine achievement of Megan Johnston-Cox, an eighth grade 
student from Home Street Middle School in Bishop, California. Megan was 
a recent competitor in the National History Day Competition (June 14-
18) at the University of Maryland. The competition, sponsored by the 
Constitutional Rights Foundation, involved students from across the 
United States who submitted essays on this year's theme: ``Migration in 
History: People, Cultures, and Ideas.'' In fact, Megan's project was 
selected for display at the National Archives branch office near the 
University of Maryland on June 17.
  Megan qualified for the national competition by first winning 
California State History Day competitions at both the county and state 
levels. Her essay, entitled ``Farm to Factory: The Migration of Yankee 
Women,'' traced the migration of women from the farms to the textile 
mills in Lowell, Massachusetts. Megan also researched the impact and 
development of the textile industry in the United States.
  Megan's outstanding accomplishments were undoubtedly guided by the 
leadership of her teacher, Mrs. Irene Sorenson. Irene is a past winner 
of the Richard Farrell Award from the Constitutional Rights Foundation 
which recognized her as the National History Day Teacher of Merit in 
1995. Also in 1995, Irene sent another student, Will Baylies, to the 
National History Day competition. Clearly, the dedication of young 
students such as Megan and Will, and the guidance of teachers like 
Irene Sorenson, make our public school system the finest in the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and our colleagues in recognizing 
Megan Johnston-Cox for her fine accomplishment. To say the least, her 
fine work is admired by all of us. I'd also like to commend Irene 
Sorenson for her fine leadership and her devotion to such remarkable 
educational standards. Students like Megan and instructors like Irene 
set a fine example for us all and it is only appropriate that the House 
pay tribute to them both today.

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