[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING BISHOP BORGESS HIGH SCHOOL AND ACADEMY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, as our Nation's space program has touched 
the lives of all Americans with both triumph and tragedy, I rise today 
to honor the special bond of courage and discovery between our seven 
Columbia astronauts and Mr. Ronald Ferenczi's science class at Bishop 
Borgess High School, which is located in my district.
  In conjunction with NASA's initiatives to foster a love of scientific 
knowledge and exploration amongst America's youth, Mr. Ronald 
Ferenczi's science class created a space experiment to study the 
effects of solar radiation on the T-4 virus, antibiotics and related 
drugs and materials. Then, to their delight and awe, the students' 
ingenious experiment was then chosen for inclusion on Columbia's 
mission of discovery, and brimming with curiosity and pride, the 
students eagerly watched and awaited Columbia's return, until . . .
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation's space program, buoyed by courage and 
dedicated to discovery, echoes the journey of life, for cradled within 
our frail vessels, our lives constitute courageous voyages of discovery 
about our world and about ourselves; and as with every worthy journey 
of discovery, the road ahead is often hard and as often filled with 
triumph as it is with tragedy.
  Consequently, how we cope and continue along our path of self-
discovery is now and will always be our greatest trial and our greatest 
triumph because the courageous endurance of unfathomable suffering on 
the path to self-discovery is now and will always be the greatest moral 
measure of humanity.
  In conclusion, then, to Mr. Ferenczi and his students at Bishop 
Borgess Academy whose names are Jason Bowens, Tangie Brooks, Evan 
Collins, Christopher Hill, Lawrence Nelson, Melvin Packer, Ashleigh 
Roberts, Darryl Earthen, Arielle Williams, Kelsey Dean, Martez Mitchell 
and Pauline Smith, I offer my sincerest accolades on their 
accomplishment.
  My deepest condolences on their suffering, and I join them in 
thanking Columbia's fallen crew, not only for what they have taught us 
about space, but for what they have taught us about ourselves. May we 
honor their memory by continuing their voyage of discovery.

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