[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1188-E1189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE THORNTON SISTERS FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2003

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge once again a 
group of talented and capable women. This month marks the 12th 
anniversary of the Thornton Sisters Foundation, Inc. I have been 
following these women's struggles and accomplishments for a long time 
now, and after a decade of success, I still feel it is an honor to 
formally salute these women for a third time.
  On Sunday, June 8, 2003, the Thornton Sisters Foundation will hold an 
awards ceremony for the 25 finalists of the Donald and Itasker Thornton 
Memorial Scholarship and their family members. The occasion will be 
hosted at Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune, NJ.
  The Thornton Sisters have an inspiring history that led to the 
creation of this foundation. They come from a family that has always 
known the intrinsic worth of a good education. In 1948, their parents, 
Donald and Itasker, moved the family from Harlem, New York City to Long 
Branch, NJ, so that their children would be able to receive a better 
education. And while Mrs. Thornton was unable to attend college, she 
pushed all of her daughters to accomplish something that she would 
never be able to do.
  With the help of scholarships and their parent's inspiration, all six 
daughters graduated from Monmouth University in Long Branch. Having 
learned early on the importance of an education, these six sisters now 
want to give the same opportunity they had to other young women.

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  This story has special significance to me, as I am a citizen of Long 
Branch. In addition, Rita Thornton and I both attended Long Branch High 
School and even participated in speech and debate together. I could 
tell back then, that she and her sisters share a true commitment to 
education and excellence--it is no wonder that they all received 
straight A's throughout high school.
  This year, I would also like to recognize all recipients of the 
Donald and Itasker Thornton Scholarship, past and present: from 1992, 
Miss LaShawn Pruitt and Miss Tiffany Sanders; from 1995, Miss Natasha 
Dwamena; from 1996, Miss Jasmine Williams; from 1997, Miss Anetha 
Perry, Miss Sanetta Ponton, and Mr. Carl Little; from 1998, Miss Diane 
Bynes; from 1999, Miss Estelle Docteur, Miss Leigh-Michil George, Miss 
Tiffany Little, and Miss Traymanesha Moore; from 2000, Miss Marie 
Guervil, and Miss Lesha Sanders; from 2001, Miss Aakia Seymour, Miss 
Fatiya Ilegieno, Miss Lesha Brady, Miss Betty Lin, and Miss Courtney 
Jackson; from 2002, Miss Melissa Thompson, Miss Tiffany Reed, and Miss 
Martha Tan; and from 2003, Miss Yoonieh Ahn, Miss Cassaundra Brown, 
Miss Porschia Epps, Miss Sorochi Esochaghi, Miss Sonya Frontin, Miss 
Indria Harrison, Miss Quasheeda Kelly, Miss Elizabeth Meltzer, Miss 
Dominique Robinson, Miss Candice Spence, Miss Shakeilya Washington, and 
Miss Katherine Wheatle.
  Mr. Speaker, I would now like to ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring these aspiring women. They are truly a group that needs to be 
admired and praised. I want to personally thank the Thornton sisters 
for their twelve years of providing scholarships for young minority 
women of the State of New Jersey.

                          ____________________