[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO THE SIMI VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM

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                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2000

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the California 
State Champion Simi Valley High School Academic Decathlon Team.
  The Simi Valley team's win this past weekend was impressive, beating 
last year's National Champions by a mere 21 points. Last year's 
National Champions also hail from my district--Moorpark High School. 
The two have been trading the Ventura County title for the past eight 
years, and now have the distinction of trading the California State 
title.
  Next month, Simi Valley High School will travel to San Antonio, 
Texas, where they will compete against 37 other schools from across the 
United States in an attempt to capture the National Champion title for 
Ventura County for the second consecutive year.
  The nine-student Simi Valley High School team is representative of 
the best and brightest our country has to offer. They have been 
accepted to such universities as Harvard and Stanford. Seniors David 
Bartlett, Steve Mihalovitz, Cary Opal, Jeff Robertson, Jennifer Tran, 
Michael Truex, Justin Underhill, Randy Xu and junior Kevin White are 
truly America's future leaders. Their coach, Ken Hibbitts, is a 
dedicated educator who deserves equal praise for a phenomenal job of 
preparing his students.
  Whatever the outcome in San Antonio, Simi Valley High School has 
proven that Ventura County is an educational powerhouse. They have also 
proven that Ventura County students and teachers have the dedication 
and perseverance to be the best they can possibly be. It takes months 
of studying from early morning to late at night to prepare for these 
competitions. Jobs, friends and family are placed on the back burner.
  Coach Hibbitts says his team has the dedication and determination to 
win a national award. They will be champions either way.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating the 
California State Champion Simi Valley High School Academic Decathlon 
Team for its impressive win this week, and in wishing the team great 
success in the national championships.

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