[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 52 (Thursday, May 4, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      RECOGNIZING TAFT HIGH SCHOOL

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I would like to take the 
opportunity to congratulate the students of the Taft High School 
Academic Decathlon Team on becoming this year's 2006 National 
Champions.
  Each year, the U.S. Academic Decathlon tests our Nation's best and 
brightest in a host of subjects including calculus, writing, impromptu 
speaking, music, and art history. The competition is consistently among 
the most rigorous in the country.
  Amassing an outstanding 51,659 points out of a possible 60,000, Taft 
High School earned one of the most sweeping and significant victories 
in recent decathlon history. As one decathlon official noted, ``I've 
never seen anything like this.''
  These students could not have achieved this memorable accomplishment 
without the tremendous support and encouragement from their dedicated 
teachers and parents.
  I commend the team coach Dr. Arthur Berchin and Taft High School 
faculty and administrators for their invaluable guidance, and I applaud 
the participants' parents for their unwavering dedication and 
commitment to helping these students reach their full potential.
  I would also like to recognize team members Zachary Ellington, 
Michael Farrell, Farhan Khan, David Lopez, David Novgorodsky, Julia 
Rebrova, Atish Sawant, Dean Schaffer, and Monica Schettler for their 
tremendous poise and determination. I encourage them to continue the 
hard work and perseverance that have brought them this victory. They 
are wonderful examples of true scholarship, and have made Taft High 
School, the county of Los Angeles, and the State of California very 
proud.
  What is more extraordinary is that each Taft High School team member 
placed first, second, or third in all ten of their individual events, 
totaling 43 medals and capturing 7 of the top 9 awards for individual 
performance.
  Equally important, the Taft High School Academic Decathlon Team is 
one strengthened by diversity, including students from Russia and 
Bangladesh. Good schools, like good societies and good families, 
celebrate and cherish diversity.
  Many of these students have decided to take their scholastic 
successes to the next level, and will attend a myriad of prestigious 
colleges and universities in the fall. All participants have already 
taken undergraduate-level courses, and their passionate pursuit of 
academic excellence is indeed noteworthy.
  Once again, I would like to honor the entire Taft High School 
Academic Decathlon Team on a well-deserved victory. Each of these 
students holds wonderful promise and I applaud them for their many 
achievements. Their futures are bright and their performance will 
continue to serve as an inspiration to us all.

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