[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING LEELA DE SOUZA AS A WHITE HOUSE FELLOW

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure today that I rise to 
commend Leela de Souza of Chicago, Illinois in recognition of her 
achievements this year as a distinguished White House Fellow.
  A native of Chicago, Ms. de Souza graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the 
University of Chicago, earning an AB in biopsychology. She received her 
MBA degree from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. After 
college, she moved to Spain and became a volunteer teacher at the 
American School of Madrid. Prior to college, at the age of 18, she 
became a professional ballet dancer. By age 23, she was the prima 
ballerina for the Hubbard Street Dance Company, one of America's 
preeminent contemporary dance troupes. Ms. de Souza is a management 
consultant with McKinsey & Co. In San Francisco, where she works with 
clients in the packaged goods, energy and health care industries. In 
addition to her professional career, she has done extensive pro bono 
work with two national symphonies. Ms. de Souza has also been involved 
as a mentor and tutor in the I Have a Dream Program in East Palo Alto, 
California, and serves on the Business Arts Council of San Francisco.
  Established in 1965, the White House Fellowship program honors 
outstanding citizens across the United States who demonstrate 
excellence in community service, leadership, academic and professional 
endeavors. The nearly 500 alumni of the program have gone on to become 
leaders in all fields of endeavors, fulfilling the fellowship's mission 
to encourage active citizenship and service to the nation. It is the 
nation's most prestigious fellowship for public service and leadership 
development.
  As a White House Fellow, Ms. de Souza serves in a position with the 
Office of the First Lady. She works at the White House Millennium 
Council to help create national projects and initiatives to celebrate 
the promise of the new millennium. In this capacity, Ms. de Souza 
assists with various initiatives such as Millennium Evenings at the 
White House and Save America's Treasures. She is also the acting 
liaison with several of the First Lady's millennium projects, including 
speech writing, federal agency millennium initiatives, and with non-
governmental organizations seeking to partner with the White House on 
national millennium projects.
  Mr. Speaker and fellow colleagues, it is an honor to pay tribute to 
Leela de Souza for her outstanding service as a White House Fellow.

                          ____________________