[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 155 (Friday, November 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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   RECOGNITION OF DAVID POFFENBERGER, STUDENT AT PUYALLUP HIGH SCHOOL

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, during the past several weeks, a 
community in my state has come together to combat racism in their 
schools. One person, a student at Puyallup High School, has taken this 
problem head on and devised a way to bring his fellow students together 
in their fight against racism.
  This student, David Poffenberger, an 18-year-old senior, designed a 
t-shirt that will be distributed to all of his 1,900 classmates in 
order to demonstrate Puyallup High School's united front against 
racism.
  In one of his art classes, David created a design for the shirt--two 
silhouetted groups, one black and one white, united by a single 
handshake. David completed the shirt by adding the phrase, ``Bridge the 
Gap.'' With the encouragement from one of his art teachers, Candace 
Loring, David took a week off from swimming practice and visited with 
local community groups to turn his plan into reality.
  The high school Booster Club, alumni association, the Puyallup Elks, 
and the Good Samaritan Hospital all contributed to his effort, raising 
over half of the $5,128 needed to print and distribute the shirts. The 
Booster Club has also agreed to cover the remaining amount in addition 
to their own $1,000 contribution.
  David's principal, Wanda Berndston, credits him for single-handedly 
spearheading this effort to improve awareness throughout the school. In 
the midst of an unfortunate situation, it is often the individuals who 
are closest to the problem who can best offer solutions.
  I commend David for his determination to make his school a better 
place for all students and am proud to present him with one of my 
``Innovation in Education'' Awards.

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