[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE EXCELLENCE OF MARIEMONT HIGH SCHOOL'S DESTINATION 
                            IMAGINATION TEAM

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                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2000

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Mariemont High School's 
Destination ImagiNation Team. The team has seven students: Carrie 
Badanes, Lizzy Anthony, Bobby Zepf, Juli Newton, Ben Cober, John 
Rutherford and Kate Young. They are coached by Anne Badanes and Sue 
Cober, and will compete in the 2000 Destination ImagiNation world 
championships. The competition will be held in Ames, Iowa on May 24-27.
  During the event, the Mariemont team will compete using its 
creativity, teamwork, and wits to solve difficult problems. The teams 
are judged by their ability to integrate a myriad of elements into a 
performance, which draws upon their knowledge of history, their acting 
skills, and their ability to improvise. Since last December, the 
Mariemont High School team has trained extensively. They have spent 
many hours working with their coaches, learning new skills, researching 
history, and attending live performances of a professional 
improvisation group at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati. In addition, 
they continue to work with their teacher, Carrie Dattillo, honing their 
acting skills.
  In 1999, the Mariemont High School team placed first at the regional 
competition and second at the state competition in Columbus. In 
previous years, the team has always placed second or third in the 
region and has won an unprecedented three Renatra Fusca awards for 
outstanding creativity. This year, they took first place in the 
regional and state competitions. At the regional competition, in March, 
they were awarded the prestigious DaVinci Award for outstanding 
creativity and teamwork. They are the first team from the Mariemont 
School District to compete in the world championships, and they are the 
sole team representing the Greater Cincinnati area.
  We are very proud of the Mariemont team's accomplishments, and all of 
us in the Cincinnati area wish its members the very best in their 
upcoming competition.

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