[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 138 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S12369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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 TRIBUTE TO MS. SELENA FLORENCE'S CLASS AT ADAMSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to recognize a group of students in my home State of 
Alabama. In July, students from Adamsville Elementary in Adamsville, 
AL, traveled to San Francisco to present a portfolio at the seventh 
annual We the People: Project Citizen National Showcase. Middle school 
classes from 43 States submitted portfolios on issues ranging from 
drugs in schools to recycling. In each portfolio, students identified a 
problem, evaluated alternative solutions, proposed a class policy, and 
developed an action plan to implement their proposed policy. Portfolios 
were evaluated by State legislators, legislative staff, and educators 
from across the country. Scoring criteria for the portfolios included 
persuasiveness, practicality, coordination, and reflection. Portfolios 
were evaluated based on four levels of achievement: superior, 
exceptional, outstanding, and honorable mention.
  The title of the Adamsville Elementary Project Citizen portfolio was 
``Making a Difference in Blackwell Park.'' The class chose to focus on 
Blackwell Park, a city park a few blocks from the school. The park is 
in bad shape and has deteriorated over the years. While there are funds 
in the city budget for the park, they have often been diverted to other 
park complexes. The class proposed a policy that would divide all the 
money in the city budget equally among the city's parks. I am proud to 
say that the Adamsville students placed in the Exceptional Achievement 
Level.
  I would like to pay special tribute to the teacher of the class, 
Selena Florence. The students of the Adamsville Elementary Project 
Citizen class are: J.D. Barnes, Zaiere Brigman, Zach Burford, Brittany 
Chandler, Dakota DeLuca, Sheldon Dumas, Demetrius Eutsey, Jessica 
Garrett, Tiffany Hayes, Josh Hughes, Braylen Jones, Chris Jones, Joshua 
Langford, Lauren Leblanc, Shelby Manning, Amanda McDuff, Justin Motley, 
Shalani Offord, Nicole Sanders, Austin Shadix, Brandon Shipp, Rayna 
Warren, and Chatney Williams.
  The achievements of these students are proof that the civic education 
initiative we approved in this chamber is paying dividends. Project 
Citizen, which is part of the civic education initiative of the No 
Child Left Behind legislation, is giving students the lifelong skills 
they need to be effective, engaged, and informed citizens. I commend 
the Center for Civic Education and the National Conference of State 
Legislatures for their leadership in sponsoring this excellent service 
learning-type program. I also would like to commend Wade Black, the 
state coordinator from the Alabama Center for Law & Civic Education for 
his work in administering the program in my State.

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