[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CENTRAL NEW JERSEY CELEBRATES THE SUCCESS OF NJ/K12 ARCHITECTS BUILD 
                          AND BELIEVE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise stoday to recognize the success of 
twelve apprentice architects and their mentors. These twelve students 
from Trenton Central High School and Lawrence High School participated 
in an intensive summer program in which they learned architectural and 
design skills that allowed them to design two projects. Divided into 
three groups, each group prepared an original design for a warehouse 
and a renovation design for a building at Trenton Central High School. 
Then simulating a business world, they prepared proposals for each 
project to go to bid. These projects represent hours of hard work, 
dedication, collaboration and communication among students, mentors and 
community members. This program is a fine example of teaching practical 
math skills. It involves identifying a problem, developing an approach 
to solve it, testing that approach, and eventually implementing a 
solution.
  The students worked under the leadership of three mentor architects, 
Vince Myers, Harvey Myers and Bob Iamello. They were divided into three 
studios: Latin Architects in Action, Edgar Gonzales, Byron Zacarias, 
Judith Rodriques, Raykel Abreu; Professional Building Design 
Architects, Patrick Alvarado, Shaneeka Ingram, Edvin Zacarias, Brandon 
Bey; Architect Design Perfection, Leidy Toro, John Frink, Jamie Rodas, 
Vamey Keita. Working together as mentor and studio, each student 
learned many skills including design, math computation, teamwork, 
public speaking, critical evaluation and long-range thinking.
  Programs like these reflect my values about the necessity for 
excellent math and science education. Math is not just another subject. 
Math is fundamental like reading. A mathematical framework provides us 
the skill for lifelong learning, for creating progress itself. These 
are very important skills for the very complex times in which we live.
  I ask that all the Members join me in congratulating these 12 
students and three mentors for their excellence in using mathematics to 
design real buildings for real life.

                          ____________________