[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NICHOLAS SCOTT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2005

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments of a man that embodies many core principles of our 
country: hard work, opportunity, selfless service, integrity and 
dedication. Nicholas Scott, now a middle school math teacher in the 
Brentwood School District, serves as a role model for the students in 
his classroom and the community as a whole.
  Nicholas Scott was born to immigrant parents, his father having fled 
Cuba prior to the beginning of the Fidel Castro regime. At the age of 
eight his parents divorced and Nick moved with his mother to Deer Park, 
New York. Although the family had limited resources, Nick's mother 
instilled in him the values of hard work and perseverance, and she 
insisted that he attend college to seek the opportunities available in 
America.
  Nick graduated high school in 1987 and lacking the resources to 
attend private college, he enrolled at Suffolk County Community 
College. For two years, Nick pursued his studies while still working 
four days a week. His persistence paid off, as he earned his Associate 
Degree in the Applied Sciences and was rewarded with an academic 
scholarship to Hofstra University, where he earned a Bachelors Degree 
in Political Science. Nick's thirst for knowledge and devotion to self-
improvement led him to Villanova University Law School, where he earned 
a Juris Doctorate degree. Nick was then admitted to the New York State 
Bar Association, becoming not only his family's first college graduate, 
but also its first lawyer.
  Throughout his education, Nick sought out opportunities to give back 
to the community. While studying for the bar exam, Nick enlisted in the 
U.S. Army. Although he was eligible to enter as an officer, Nick chose 
to start at the bottom and work his way up, an experience with which he 
was familiar. Nick quickly earned his Sergeant's stripes and soon after 
won a commission as an officer.
  Nick left the active army to return to New York where he began legal 
practice. Once more, Nick chose others over himself. Rather then enter 
private practice, Nick went to serve the most vulnerable members of 
society as a lawyer for the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.
  After several years in practice, Nick decided that he wanted to 
further serve his community by teaching. He earned his teaching 
certificate and returned to Brentwood to teach middle school math.
  Nick's service to our country has not ended in the classroom. Having 
joined the U.S. Army Reserve as a member of the Judge Advocate General 
Corps, Nick volunteered for duty in Iraq. In December of 2002, he was 
deployed along with the 101st Airborne Division to Kuwait and 
subsequently into Iraq, where he adjudicated local disputes, providing 
compensation to Iraqis that suffered property and other losses due to 
the war. Nick's dedication to improving the lives of newly freed Iraqi 
civilians earned him a Bronze Star and the title of Captain.
  The day before his deployment to Iraq, Nick married fellow Brentwood 
teacher Nadine P. Kroner, and they are now the proud parents of a six-
month old son, Ethan Hunter.
  Nick Scott is an inspiration to me, to each student in the Brentwood 
school system and to our entire community. He is a living testament to 
the greatness of America, a land where opportunity matched with hard 
work can trump any hardship. But Nick Scott is a true role model 
because he has channeled his opportunity and hard work into a lifetime 
of service to others. I commend Nick for his dedication to service, for 
his remarkable accomplishments, for his strong work ethic, and his 
contributions to his family, community and country.

                          ____________________