[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SIEMENS WESTINGHOUSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPETITION

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                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2001

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of 
Shira Billet and Dora Sosnowik, two seniors from Stella K. Abraham High 
School for Girls in the Fourth Congressional district of New York.
  These two teens have accomplished an amazing feat. On December 4, 
they were awarded the top team prize of $100,000 in the Siemens 
Westinghouse Science and Technology Competitions. Their ingenious 
project was the development of a Viscometer to measure the consistency 
of ultra-thin lubricants. Their achievement is bound to affect the 
fields of micro-electronics and medical therapy, specifically in the 
treatment of arthritis patients.
  The Westinghouse Competition is administered by The College Board and 
funded by the Siemens Foundation. It recognizes achievement and 
invention in the fields of science and technology, and allows high 
school students to receive national recognition for their research 
projects. Awards are given to individual and team projects in 
scholarship amounts ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
  I admire Shira and Dora for many reasons, the first of which is their 
ability to research, develop and apply such a spectacular invention at 
the ages of 16 and 17. The two girls have shown high levels of 
intelligence balanced with concern and dedication to the betterment of 
their community. Their participation in the Westinghouse research 
program was just a small part of their busy schedule. Both Orthodox 
Jews who observe the Saturday Sabbath, Shira and Dora maintain a packed 
academic and extra-curricular schedule. Attendance at the Abraham 
School is from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., where emphasis is placed on a 
combination of academic and religious studies. The girls are also co-
editors of the school yearbook.
  The research program at the Abraham School is relatively new, created 
just two years ago. Shira and Dora were advised by their chemistry 
teacher, Rebecca Isseroff, and supervised by Professor Miriam 
Rafailovich, director of the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered 
Interfaces at SUNY Stony Brook.
  I know this prestigious honor is a precursor of things to come. Long 
Island can expect great things from Shira Billet and Dora Sosnowlk. I 
congratulate and thank them for what they have done and will continue 
to do for our community.

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