[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 128 (Friday, September 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HELEN KILIAN

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                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2001

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Helen Kilian, a 
freshman at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. I would like to take 
this opportunity to congratulate Helen on receiving first place in the 
VSA arts' 18th annual Playwright Discovery Award. This competition 
elicits nearly 150 entries from across the country, but only four 
receive top honors. Helen's script was one of those honored.
  Helen's play addresses the pervasive issue of disability 
discrimination by telling the story of Frances, a young girl who takes 
on the challenges of high school and her own disability. Frances, who 
is afflicted with cerebral palsy, is offered an award for inspiring her 
classmates. This intriguing story, aptly entitled ``The Trouble with 
Being Inspiring'', delves into the assumptions that we hold about 
people with and without disabilities and ourselves.
  A production of Helen's play will be performed at the prestigious 
Washington, DC, Kennedy Center. This is a tremendous accomplishment for 
any playwright, but this success is an even greater milestone for 
Helen. Not only is Helen, who is 18, at the beginning of her writing 
career, but Helen also faces her own challenges. Helen has cerebral 
palsy. Helen has met the challenges that accompany cerebral palsy and 
turned her experiences into a tool to help all of us reexamine how we 
view disabilities. It is clear that Helen has no trouble being 
inspiring.
  Helen's single act dramatic work, ``The Trouble with Being 
Inspiring'', will be performed at the Kennedy Center this Monday, 
October 1. I encourage everyone to attend the play and support Helen's 
work. I know that my colleagues join me in wishing Helen continued 
success as she pursues her work as a playwright and continues her 
studies in creative writing and graphic design.




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