[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO OTTAWA TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL

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                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer congratulations to 
Ottawa Township High School (OTHS) in Ottawa, Illinois for its 
remarkable accomplishment of winning the Illinois State Music 
Championship for the tenth consecutive year.
  Much of the credit for this amazing achievement must be attributed to 
the strong leadership of Mr. Roger Am, Vocal Music Director, and Ms. 
Sarah Reckmyer, Director of Bands. Clearly, their hard work and 
commitment to the program over the years have developed an environment 
of high expectations.
  Further credit for the OTHS success is due to the support of the 
school administration; the work of the music staff at the elementary 
schools which feed into Ottawa Township High School and the OTHS 
students themselves who have refused to accept any outcome short of 
victory in the state music competition.
  It is quite refreshing to see a public high school with such a strong 
commitment to the fine arts. In addition to its obviously outstanding 
music program, Ottawa Township High School also possesses and displays 
a truly remarkable multi-million dollar collection of artwork--a fine 
arts attribute which surely few public high schools in the nation can 
match.
  In closing, let me state just how proud and pleased I am to have this 
chance to provide my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives with this shining example of a public educational 
institution which believes so strongly in offering its students this 
type of fine arts opportunity. I encourage my colleagues to share this 
example with the high schools in their own congressional districts in 
hopes of spurring interest in the fine arts in our young citizens 
across our nation.

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