[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 107 (Tuesday, September 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S SPEECH TEAM, WALKER, 
                               MINNESOTA

 Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, today I honor Walker-Hackensack-
Akeley School District's speech team, in Walker, MN, which recently 
earned an Award for Excellence in Education for its exceptional and 
innovative achievements in educating children.
  The Walker-Hackensack-Akeley speech team is truly a model of 
educational success. The team has demonstrated that when a school 
establishes a reputation in a specific area, this promotes high 
expectations, community involvement and support, and an atmosphere 
encouraging further success. The competitive speech program at Walker-
Hackensack-Akeley High School truly sets this school apart from most 
others in the State. The program is primarily for senior high school, 
but exceptionally gifted seventh- and eighth-graders can also 
participate.
  The speech program focuses on the Minnesota State High School Speech 
Competition and the National Forensic League. Both areas of 
concentration have brought numerous awards and recognition to Walker-
Hackensack-Akeley communities. More important, the program has helped 
develop students' skills and led them, in some cases, to world-class 
opportunities.
  Walker-Hackensack-Akeley's speech program has produced more State 
champions and medal winners at State-level competition than any school 
its size, and the high school consistently ranks among the top schools 
throughout Minnesota. Many students have gone on to compete in the 
prestigious National Forensic League, and 10 former students have 
achieved National Forensic League Academic All-American status. Many 
have also pursued distinguished careers in law, medicine, and business.
  The Walker-Hackensack-Akeley speech program has a 40-year record of 
success, during which participants earned 163 State speech medals, 
including 31 individual State championships. Participants of the 
program have competed 21 times at the national level and have won 
dozens of invitational, subsection, and sectional titles.
  Last year, the high school's graduating class of 61 students received 
in excess of $650,000 in merit-based scholarships from universities and 
colleges across the country.
  Much of the credit for the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley's speech team's 
success belongs to its coach, Chuck Cravens. The students and staff at 
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Schools understand that in order to be 
successful, a school must go beyond achieving academic success; it must 
also provide a nurturing environment where students can develop the 
knowledge, skills, and attitudes for success throughout life. All of 
the faculty, staff, and students at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Schools 
should be very proud of the accomplishments of its speech team.
  I congratulate the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District's speech 
team in Walker for winning the Award for Excellence in Education and 
for its exceptional contributions to education in Minnesota.

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