[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. PAUL LICHTMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2006

  Mrs. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Paul Lichtman, 
a science teacher from Uniondale High School. Teaching is one of the 
most honorable and important professions a person could choose. Dr. 
Lichtman is at the top of his profession, which his students have 
always known, and others realize as well. He has been honored by the 
New York State Assembly, the Nassau County Legislature, the Town of 
Hempstead Supervisor and the Town Board, and recently was named the 
Siemens Foundation's top mentor among those who helped 1,600 high 
school students enter its 2005 national competition. In typical Dr. 
Lichtman style, he has donated the $15,000 that comes with the award to 
purchase more equipment for the school's research room.
  Dr. Lichtman earned his Pharm.D. in 1990, specializing in toxicology 
and worked for several years as a manufacturing pharmacist. He was a 
science research coordinator and teacher at Massapequa High School and 
Hillcrest High School prior to making his way to Uniondale.
  Dr. Lichtman's program is one of only in three in the nation, other 
than in some magnet schools, where students do most of their research 
in a school lab rather than at a hospital or university. In just six 
short years, Dr. Lichtman has increased the number of research students 
from zero to over 80. His students, mostly minorities, have long 
credited Dr. Lichtman not just for his encouragement and mentoring in 
the classroom but also for teaching life lessons that can be used and 
applied throughout their lives.
  The students develop a full research proposal by conducting a 
complete literature search and designing the methodology, which is then 
approved by Dr. Lichtman. Students implement the projects in the 
school's research lab, present their results at science competitions 
and propose and carry out further studies. The students' projects have 
resulted in practical applications that have been implemented, such as 
reduction of storm water runoff contaminants. Many of his students have 
been nominated for science awards and have placed in various science 
fairs and competitions, which is a testament to Dr. Lichtman.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Dr. Lichtman, and all of our teachers, for 
their wonderful work, and their contribution to our leaders of 
tomorrow.

                          ____________________