[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 109 (Wednesday, August 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ISAAC DARKO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 5, 1998

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate and to pay tribute 
to Mr. Isaac Darko, a constituent of mine and a distinguished student 
at Columbia University in New York. He will be recognized for his 
academic and scientific achievements as a participant in the National 
institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program for 
Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (UGSP) on August 6, 1998.
  Isaac graduated from the Health Professions and Human Services High 
School in 1997 and has just completed his freshman year at Columbia 
University. This summer he has been working at the NIH Department of 
Molecular Biology under the supervision of Dr. Alfred Johnson. He has 
been working on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is 
expressed in such cancers as breast and prostate cancer and in other 
cancer cell lines.
  Mr. Speaker, the UGSP scholars search is highly competitive and 
nationwide. Currently, the program has 24 scholars from all over the 
nation, from institutions such as Columbia University, MIT, Harvard, 
Georgetown, U.C. Davis, and Stanford. In order to participate in the 
program, a Scholar must either have a 3.5 Grade Point Average or be in 
the top 5% of his/her class. Candidates must also demonstrate a 
commitment to pursuing careers in biomedical research and must be from 
a disadvantaged background. The current group is composed of 32% 
Hispanics, 32% African Americans, 21% Asians, 10% Caucasians, and 5% 
Native American, with a balance between the genders of 52% female and 
48% male.
  Mr. Speaker, being selected for this program indicates that Isaac has 
demonstrated that he has the ability and the desire to be an asset and 
a role model in our community. We are proud of his accomplishments and 
I know he is taking full advantage of the opportunity presented to him. 
He is a terrific example for future participants in this program and 
others like it.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. 
Isaac Darko for his outstanding accomplishments and also in commending 
the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program for 
Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds for offering opportunities 
to students like Isaac.

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