[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E799-E800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 11TH ANNUAL PANASONIC KID WITNESS NEWS PROGRAM 
                    AND THE NEW VISION AWARD WINNERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2001

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very talented 
group of students at Theodore Roosevelt School in Weehawken, New 
Jersey. On May 15th, 11th annual Panasonic Kid Witness News program 
will present its New Vision Awards at the Newark Museum in Newark, New 
Jersey.
  Theodore Roosevelt School's K-8 is this year's New Vision Award 
winner for producing the best ``Local Hero'' video. Videos in the Local 
Hero category profile an individual who represents accomplishments, 
heroism or spirit, and demands our attention and adulation. The video 
created by the Weehawken school KWN team used a series of on-camera 
narrators, interviews, still photographs, and home video footage to 
create a moving portrait of one of their classmates, 12-year-old Lenny 
Rodriguez, a cancer survivor who made the hard decision to have his leg 
amputated. In choosing the Theodore Roosevelt School, the judges 
selected ``Our Little Giant Dares to Dream,'' an inspirational story 
about one person's extraordinary triumph over adversity. I commend Mr. 
Jon Hammer, 7th grade teacher and KWN coordinator, and 6th grade 
teacher Eileen Hochman for their generous time and support given to the 
Weehawken KWN team to produce such an outstanding and special video.
  I am very familiar with Panasonic's Kid Witness News program. It is a 
hands-on, video education program, in more than 200 primarily inner-
city schools in 120 U.S. cities. Using Panasonic-supplied equipment to 
create video projects, young people are encouraged to develop their 
creative, communication, and technical skills through video production. 
Annual awards are presented to student teams in various categories, 
including Best Video, Documentary, Local Hero, Multiculturalism, and 
News at a special program held in New Jersey each spring.
  Theodore Roosevelt School was the very first participating school in 
Panasonic's KWN student news program. Mr. Anthony LaBruno, the school's 
principal, clearly understands the students' pride in accomplishing 
from these

[[Page E800]]

kinds of programs. Congratulations to him, to the KWN program advisers, 
and to the students of Theodore Roosevelt School for work well done. 
And a special recognition and best wishes to Lenny Rodriguez, a very 
courageous young man.
  For 11 years the Panasonic KWN program has been helping young people 
learn about issues that affect them, their classmates and their 
community. And in its efforts to bridge the digital divide, KWN 
encourages students' discovery of what technology can do to enhance 
their educational experience. Therefore, I commend Don Iwatani, 
Panasonic's Chairman and CEO of North American operations, for his 
leadership and support. The effort of KWN to bring information, 
knowledge, and understanding of current events to tomorrow's citizens 
will make a difference in the world we all share. Kid Witness News 
certainly has made a difference in the lives of children in New Jersey 
and throughout the United States.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the talented students 
and teachers who have contributed to the great success of Panasonic's 
Kid Witness News program.

                          ____________________