[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 29 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1933-S1934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KYLIE WHITE

 Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I would like to take this moment 
to recognize Kylie White, a fifth grade student at Lowther South 
Intermediate School in Emporia KS. Kylie was recently selected as the 
Kansas recipient of the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award from 
the National Association of Gifted Children.
  The NAGC--Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Awards program--
recognizes excellence in young children between third and sixth grade 
who have distinguished themselves in academics, leadership, or the 
arts. This program is funded by the Nicholas Green Foundation, 
established by Maggie and Reg Green, and the Nicholas Green Scholarship 
Fund, both created to honor the memory of the Green's seven-year-old 
son Nicholas, who was killed in a drive-by-shooting while vacationing 
in Italy in 1994. The program highlights high-ability students across 
the country, demonstrating that gifted and talented children come from 
all cultures, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic groups.
  The NAGC--Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award honors America's 
outstanding students, who serve as role models for all of our Nation's 
children as they strive for excellence. I am proud that Kylie has been 
selected to receive this honor on behalf of the State of Kansas. I wish 
her continued success in all of her future endeavors.

[[Page S1934]]

  I ask consent that Kylie's NAGC--Nicholas Green Distinguished Student 
Award composition be printed in the Record following my remarks.
  The composition follows:

       ``Mama, a problem is only a problem until you solve it.'' 
     These were the words I spoke when I was only three. Ever 
     since then I have been solving all different kinds of 
     problems, whether they only took a couple minutes or months 
     to figure out. What I like about problems is that each and 
     every one of them is different and you have to pull together 
     all of your knowledge and creativity to figure them out.
       I got interested in problem solving when I was little. My 
     Dad taught me how to solve all kinds of problems. Whether it 
     was figuring out the money in Monopoly or deciding how to 
     make a stable structure out of Legos all kinds of 
     ``problems'' were tackled. I was very lucky to have great 
     first and second grade teachers who daily stretched my skills 
     and encouraged me to set high goals. Mrs. Davidson and Ms. 
     Newton taught me how to really push myself.
       In second, third and fourth grades, my principal offered 
     the ``Principal's Problem of the Week.'' These were optional 
     challenging word or math problems that always got me 
     thinking. I was awarded top ``Principal's Problem of the Week 
     Solver'' three consecutive years. In grade school I went to 
     the library once every week and solved challenging problems 
     for gifted children.
       I've been in Odyssey of the Mind for three years now. 
     Odyssey of the Mind is a team problem-solving competition 
     with both ``long-term'' and ``spontaneous'' problems. The 
     long-term solution you work on for months before you go to 
     the competition. The spontaneous problem's name kind of 
     explains itself. You get the problem and usually you get 1 
     minute to think and 2 minutes to answer. The team I was on in 
     fourth grade made it all the way to World Finals in 
     Knoxville, Tennessee. Raising the money to get there was a 
     problem in itself. We had a lot of fun there and we took 25th 
     place out of 44 teams in our division even though we were a 
     very young team.
       This year in 5th grade my biggest challenge has been 
     learning how to speak French. I have also served as a peer 
     mentor in a group for students having problems making and 
     maintaining friendships. I like helping others solve their 
     problems.
       Problem solving opens up a lot of opportunities for me. The 
     cure for cancer is a problem. Putting the pieces together at 
     a crime scene and helping find a serial killer are important 
     problems that will help people feel safer in their beds. I 
     could help people solve their problems if I were to become a 
     psychologist. I could be a teacher and help kids learn how to 
     solve problems. Or maybe I could be a top presidential 
     adviser and solve international problems.
       Problems solving is a way to exercise your brain. It is a 
     fun way to expand your knowledge horizon. I hope to stay at 
     it for a long, long time.

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