[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING CASEY SMITH AND NANCY STRIPPEL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 1998

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take a moment to recognize two 
young students from Colorado who best exemplify the spirit of learning 
and of academics that we pride ourselves upon on the Western Slope. 
Their names are Casey Smith and Nancy Strippel and they are both 
Presidential Scholars from Grand Junction, Colorado. They are the only 
two from our State, and both attend the same high school, Grand 
Junction High School, which makes their achievements all the more 
remarkable. They visited our nation's capital this week in order to 
receive their Presidential Scholar medallions which were presented to 
them by the Speaker of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, as you also know, the United States Presidential 
Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the 
President, to recognize and honor some of our Nation's most 
distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1970, the program was 
extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in 
the visual, creative, and performing arts. Each year, up to 141 
students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the Nation's 
highest honors for high school students. The Scholars are chosen on the 
basis of their accomplishments in many areas--academic and artistic 
success, leadership, and involvement in school and the community. The 
Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness 
in young people. In honoring the Presidential Scholars, the President 
of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school 
seniors of high potential.
  The Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 3,700 Presidential 
Scholars for over 30 years. All these distinguished young people have 
demonstrated leadership, scholarship, contribution to school and 
community, and accomplishments in the arts, sciences, or other fields. 
The work of the Commission on Presidential Scholars reaffirms, on 
behalf of the President, the Nation's commitment to education that 
enables people to lead lives of challenge, accomplishment, and 
fullfilment.
  I would also like to commend the work and dedication of Lorena 
Thompson, their teacher who deserves a great deal of credit for the 
success of these two scholars. Her devotion to teaching and evident 
ability to inspire the youth of Colorado, is truly what education is 
all about. I thank her for her labor on behalf of her students. I also 
want to congratulate the faculty and staff of Grand Junction High 
School who also deserve our thanks for the work they do.
  Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by saying that I am very proud of the 
accomplishments of Nancy and Casey, and know that they will achieve 
even greater success in the next stages of their already remarkable 
lives.

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