[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 177 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO JEFFERSON AWARD WINNER LISA CHAN OF DALY CITY

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2007

  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share news of an 
extraordinary young woman from my home district. Lisa Chan, a 17-year-
old senior at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School, and a Daly City 
resident, has been recognized with a Jefferson Award. It is a fitting 
honor, but let me say it is but one more accolade for this extremely 
accomplished young lady.
  Some might refer to Lisa as an ``overachiever,'' but that would 
hardly do justice to the list of accomplishments she has already 
achieved. At her school, she is editor-in-chief of the yearbook, 
President of the California Scholarship Federation, President/Founder 
of the Leo's Club, and Academic Representative of the Student Council. 
Lisa is also able to maintain a 4.2 grade point average.
  She won this year's Miss San Francisco Outstanding Teen pageant, 
which is part of the Miss America organization. Her winning theme of 
``Empowering the Youth Toward an Educational Revolution'' highlights 
her extracurricular activity of creating a non-profit agency to do 
exactly that. Her ``Bay Area Strive'' group puts high school students 
to work helping elementary school students. It is a stunning success in 
its own right, empowering young adults to become active in the effort 
to upgrade the California public school system. In fact, Lisa has the 
goal of publishing a book about the effort by her 18th birthday. I am 
confident that she will succeed in that goal, as she has succeeded in 
so much already.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to say that Lisa Chan also was one of just 
eight teenage girls to win the national Target House Volunteer Contest, 
which focuses on volunteerism. Few teenagers show the drive and 
determination evidenced by Lisa Chan at such an early age. She is truly 
a role model for her peers and I am proud to introduce her to my 
colleagues in the House of Representatives.
  Madam Speaker, I have little doubt that Lisa Chan will fulfill her 
goal of attending college and eventually studying law. Her commitment 
to the community, matched by her intelligence and perseverance, will 
hold her in good stead as she pursues her ultimate goal of political 
activity.

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