[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 JESSICA CAROLINE AITON (1983-2001), 2000-01 YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL 
     REPRESENTATIVE (LOUISIANA NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE 
                              ASSOCIATION)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD H. BAKER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, Jessica Caroline Aiton of Greenwell Springs, 
LA died on Monday, December 17, 2001, at the age of 18, following a 
tragic car accident. Jessica served as the 2000-2001 Youth Leadership 
Council Representative from her state for the National Rural Electric 
Cooperative Association. This means that she was one of the best and 
brightest students from rural America and from Louisiana.
  Every year, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association 
(NRECA), through its nearly one thousand member cooperatives, hosts the 
Washington, DC Youth Tour. This program brings 1,300 high school 
students from across rural America to visit their Nation's Capital to 
learn about their heritage, and about their electric cooperatives. On 
average, Louisiana brings 25 students each year. From this group, the 
state association selects one outstanding individual to be its youth 
spokesperson for the year and to serve on the NRECA national Youth 
Leadership Council. Jessica was selected as the representative for the 
2000-2001 school year. She was one of just 41 nationally appointed to 
this honor.
  Jessica had been an honor student at Central High School where she 
graduated third in her class. This past fall, she started her freshman 
year at LSU. She began as an Accounting major and then changed to 
Chemical Engineering. Next spring, she had planned to take some 
political science classes, with an eye toward law school and politics. 
As she once said of her future in an email to one of her former YLC 
counselors, ``All I know is that I want to go to law school and 
eventually become a Senator. That much is clear.'' Jessica was also an 
active member of the Denham Springs Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, loved to run and ride horses, and had just recently joined 
the College Republicans. With a heart for God, an incredible desire to 
serve, and the poise, charisma, and dedication rarely seen in a young 
woman of her age, Jessica was well on her way to being a great Senator. 
The State of Louisiana, her electric cooperative family, and America 
will miss her.
  As her high school graduating class motto said:

     The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is
     and has been is but the twilight of the dawn. (H.G. Wells)

  May the light of that dawn shine upon Jessica Caroline Aiton forever 
more.

                          ____________________