[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1091]]



             PAYING TRIBUTE TO COLORADO STUDENT HISTORIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2002

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
history education program in Colorado and throughout the United States. 
National History Day is a year-long nonprofit program through which 
students in grades 6-12 research and create historical projects related 
to a broad theme, culminating in an annual contest. This year's 
National History Day theme, ``Revolution, Reaction, Reform in 
History,'' encompasses endless possibilities for exploration. Each year 
more than 700,000 students participate in this nationwide event that 
encourages students to delve into various facets of world, national, 
regional, or local history and to produce original research projects.
  By encouraging young Coloradans and other young men and women to take 
advantage of the wealth of primary historical resources available to 
them, students are able to gain a richer understanding of historical 
issues, ideas, people, and events. Students in this program learn how 
to analyze a variety of primary sources, such as photographs, letters, 
posters, maps, artifacts, sound recordings and motion pictures. This 
significant academic exercise encourages intellectual growth while 
helping students to develop critical thinking and problem solving 
skills that will help them manage and use information.
  I want to take a moment to pay tribute to the four students who will 
represent Colorado at this year's National History Day contest. Amy 
Lewis of Summit Middle School in Frisco, Colorado, with the assistance 
of her teacher Sam Havens, wrote a fine paper entitled ``The 
Automobile: A Revolution of a Lifetime.'' Amy Wiley's exhibit, ``The 
Incredible Mill Girl Revolution,'' represents her hard work and the 
dedication of Dana Ferguson and all the fine teachers at Connect Middle 
School of Pueblo. Finally, Angie Mestas and Martina Zinr, of Ortega 
Middle School in Alamosa, have prepared ``Sewer Systems: Revolution in 
Urban Sanitation,'' a group project under the supervision of teacher 
Carrie Zimmerman.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to applaud the dedication of these students and 
the hours of education, devotion and friendship provided to them by 
their respective teachers. The National History Day program is truly a 
great asset to Colorado's and our nation's educators and students in 
their quest for educational excellence. The program represents hope for 
improving historical knowledge and perspective and the future of our 
young people as citizens of the world. I thank all those involved in 
making this competition possible and I wish our own Colorado delegation 
good luck as they match wits with students from across the country.

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