[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 54 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MEREDITH ARENSMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANNE M. NORTHUP

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2000

  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor a 
young Kentucky student from my district who has achieved national 
recognition for exemplary volunteer service in her community. Meredith 
Arensman of Louisville, has been named one of my state's top honorees 
for The 2000 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide 
program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.
  Meredith, a senior at Louisville Collegiate School, has organized the 
annual Louisville Girls Leadership Conference for the past three years, 
and is now the event chairwoman. Meredith was approached by women in 
the Louisville area who were concerned about the lack of leadership 
programs for girls. They wanted Meredith's help in putting together a 
conference that would help girls choose careers and make life choices 
with confidence and enthusiasm. Meredith started by creating a planning 
committee of fellow students who shared her passion for women's rights. 
They selected workshop topics on mental and physical self-defense, the 
negative connotation surrounding feminism, and the movement of women 
into non-traditional careers. Meredith handled public relations, 
secured an event location, identified speakers and sponsors, and 
organized volunteers. More than 500 girls and 400 adults, including 
Gloria Steinem and Geraldine Ferraro, have participated in the 
conference. As Meredith said, ``We must work to make sure that no one 
is inhibited by their race, religion, or gender.''
  It is my honor to pay tribute to someone who has made a difference to 
so many other young women. In light of numerous statistics that 
indicate Americans today are less involved in their communities than 
they once were, it is vital that we encourage and support the kind of 
selfless contributions this young citizen has made. Young volunteers 
like Meredith are inspiring examples to all of us and are among our 
brightest hopes for a better tomorrow.
  Meredith should be extremely proud to have been singled out from such 
a large group of dedicated volunteers. I heartily applaud Meredith for 
her initiative in seeking to make her community a better place to live 
and for the positive impact she has had on the lives of others. She has 
demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that is truly 
extraordinary in today's world and deserves our sincere respect and 
admiration. Her actions show that young Americans can, and do, play an 
important role in our communities and that America's community spirit 
continues to hold tremendous promise for the future. Again, I offer my 
congratulations to Meredith for this outstanding achievement.

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