[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL CHAMPIONS HAMMOND ROBOTICS TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 11, 2002

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and enthusiasm 
that I congratulate the national champion Hammond Robotics Team. the 
team, which comprises students from all racial, cultural, and economic 
walks of life, finished in first place for the second consecutive year 
at the US FIRST national competition in Orlando, FL.
  The members of the national champion Hammond Robotics Team are: 
Amanda Aldridge, Jasmine Barnett, Justin Clark, David Clinton, Ryan 
Gawron, Mike Goril, Ethan Grove, Eugene Hanas, Elyse Holguin, Khamicia 
Jarrett, Kristyn Kapetanovic, Kevin Kolodziej, Omar Martin, Sarah 
Michna, Luis Moreno, Amanda Morrison, Julia Novak, Shane Ostapchuk, 
Michael Phillips, Christina Polka, and Michael Smith.
  US FIRST is an organization dedicated to motivating America's youth 
about science, technology, and engineering through hands-on methods. 
The program involves a unique blend of problem solving and competition 
that prepares students for real world situations. During the 
competition, teams face off against each other and are given a limited 
amount of time to devise both an offensive and defensive strategy for 
accomplishing a specific task. Team Hammond conquered the challenge. 
While nearly 1,000 teams nationwide were involved in the US FIRST 
competition, Team Hammond came out on top.
  Although Team Hammond has enjoyed a high level of success through the 
years, the team's triumphs have not come without adversity. Though many 
of the teams at the National Competition enjoyed significant corporate 
financial underwriting, Team Hammond had to work extremely hard to 
secure funding for both the regional and national competition. Through 
numerous fundraising efforts and private sponsorships, Team Hammond 
took the necessary initiative and was able to secure the necessary 
funding for its worthy program.
  However, perhaps the most applaudable aspect of Team Hammond's 
success is the various backgrounds from which the team members come. 
The team is comprised of students from all four of Hammond's high 
schools and reflects the diversity on which northwest Indiana prides 
itself. This diversity is, for the Hammond Robotics Program, the rule 
rather than the exception and it should be commended.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I congratulate Team Hammond 
for its second consecutive year as national champions and third 
national championship overall at the US FIRST national competition. The 
young men and women of the team worked hard towards a goal and their 
efforts paid off. I hope that the rest of my colleagues will join with 
me in applauding Team Hammond's commendable effort.

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