[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ACADEMIC DECATHLON WIN

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am delighted to rise to 
acknowledge El Camino Real High School's championship win in this 
year's national Academic Decathlon. El Camino Real High School is 
located in Woodland Hills, CA. This is El Camino's third win and marks 
the most national titles any California student group has ever 
received. It is a wonderful record of which to be proud, and I extend 
my heartiest congratulations to everyone who made this accomplishment 
possible.
  The Academic Decathlon is highly competitive, testing the students in 
10 different subjects. The El Camino team headed to Boise, Idaho to 
compete against more than 300 students from 39 other American high 
schools and one Canadian high school to clinch the national title.
  Under the leadership and tutelage of three main coaches, Melinda 
Owen, Mark Johnson and Rebecca Gessert, the team of eight students 
collectively spent more than 1,200 hours this year to prepare for the 
competition, including intense cramming sessions as the big event drew 
closer. These students sacrificed much of their free time to represent 
their school, and it is clear that their work paid off.
  I could not be happier for or prouder of the El Camino team, 
including Cassidy Ellis, Gary Fox, Jonathan Lin, Patrick Liu, Eric 
Rasyidi, Adam Singer, Chris Taylor, and Adrian Wittenberg. They have 
made their school, their district, and our entire State proud, and they 
have every reason to celebrate their accomplishment.
  The students could not have won their title without the help of their 
dedicated coaches. I also salute and congratulate all the teachers, 
faculty, and students at El Camino who worked with this team and gave 
them the support they needed to achieve their goals.
  Congratulations again to El Camino Real High School on this wonderful 
win.

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