[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S7304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING EKATERINA MIKHAILOVICH RADZHABOVA

 Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I wish to honor Miss Ekaterina 
Mikhailovich Radzhabova who graduated this month with a master's degree 
in business from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. Miss Radzhabova 
is a Russian immigrant who came to the United States 5 years ago, at 
the age of 19, to seek an education and a better way of life.
  Since coming to America, Miss Radzhabova has completed both her 
undergraduate and graduate programs at Xavier with the highest possible 
honors. This is particularly impressive considering that she 
accomplished this while speaking her second language, English.
  Miss Radzhabova has not only proven herself dedicated through her 
hard work at school, but also through the volunteer work that she has 
performed in her extra time to help inner city children develop better 
skills in reading and arithmetic. On the weekends, she drives outside 
the city to help an elderly family with chores that they can no longer 
do on their own. Indeed, through her hard work and service, she has 
clearly demonstrated the American ideal of helping those who are less 
fortunate. Miss Radzhabova is not only an inspiration to the youth of 
Russia but also to all of our young Americans.
  During her graduation ceremony this month, Ekaterina Radzhabova was 
surrounded by many of the friends that she made while living in the 
United States. Unfortunately, her family was unable to attend the 
ceremonies. One of those family members was her father, Mikhail 
Radzhabova, who passed away in October 2001. It was his dream to have 
his family come to the United States after the fall of the Soviet 
Union. Although her father was not able to attend the ceremony in 
person, I am sure that he was there in spirit, looking proudly upon his 
daughter, knowing that she had helped make his dream a reality. 
Unfortunately, her mother and brother were denied visas to attend her 
graduation. But, like her father, they are undoubtedly proud of her 
accomplishments.
  Miss Radzhabova is a talented young woman who has overcome a great 
deal since she came to America to pursue her dream. She has proven to 
be a great success in her new country by not only accomplishing part of 
her father's dream, but also by inspiring countless people around her 
with her positive attitude and determination to succeed.

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