[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 171 (Tuesday, November 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THE HOUSATONIC VALLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ENVIROTHON TEAM

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                       HON. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 6, 2007

  Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, today I take great pride in 
recognizing five extraordinary students from Housatonic Valley Regional 
High School in Falls Village, CT who won this year's International 
Envirothon competition.
  They started off their quest last fall by training for Connecticut's 
Envirothon, sponsored by the State's five conservation districts and 
the State's Department of Environmental Protection. The Envirothon, 
started in 1992 by Connecticut's Soil and Water Conservation Districts, 
now includes teams from 50 schools from around the State. Through this 
event, both students and teachers have benefited by meeting people 
working in a broad range of environmental careers and have experienced 
both professional and academic growth.
  In preparation for the competition, each team, led by a teacher or 
advisor, receives curriculum materials and is invited to a series of 
training workshops. All of this extensive training culminates in a 
field day competition--this May, it was held in Farmington, CT. The 
hard-working students from Housatonic Valley Regional were the top-
scoring team in four out of the five subject areas and garnered 
particularly high scores in Clean Renewable Energy, Wildlife, and 
Soils.
  Their preparation paid off yet again as they competed in the 
extremely competitive Canon North American Envirothon, which took place 
in upstate New York. While competing against teams from over 40 States 
as well as a few Canadian provinces, Team Connecticut secured another 
first place victory--making them the Envirothon's international 
champion.
  A particularly impressive accomplishment was Team Connecticut's Oral 
Presentation. With only 10 hours to prepare, in which they responded to 
a challenge to design and create a clean renewable school building, 
Team Connecticut scored 156 out of a possible 200 points. Team 
Connecticut's teamwork and talent shows how truly committed they are to 
a future founded on clean renewable energy and innovative ideas to keep 
our environment sustainable.
  The students, Linnea Palmer Paton of Sharon, Andrew Alquesta of East 
Canaan, Sunny Kellner of Warren, Arlen Kleinsasser of Falls Village, 
and Jeremy Kleinsasser of Falls Village, will each be receiving $5,000 
in scholarships from the Canon North American Envirothon. I commend the 
students and their teachers for all of their hard work, as well as the 
Northwest Conservation District for encouraging their growth. I wish 
them the best of luck in their future endeavors and ask all the Members 
of the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating their 
great accomplishment.




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