[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 71 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF GABRIELLE THOMPSON OF BUFFALO, MINNESOTA: RECIPIENT OF THE 
                  PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHELE BACHMANN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2008

  Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend seventh grader 
Gabrielle Thompson of Buffalo Community Middle School for her 
extraordinary commitment to her community and her compassion for young 
cancer patients. This week, Gabrielle will be one of only 102 state 
honorees from across the Nation honored with the Prudential Spirit of 
Community Award.
  Gabrielle has turned a difficult personal story into a story of 
healing and hope for children facing a life with cancer. When she was 
only 4 years old, doctors removed a malignant tumor from Gabrielle's 
abdomen. Now, with that successful surgery not long behind her, 
Gabrielle has committed to helping others who find themselves in 
similar situations.
  In addition to raising $5,000 for cancer research selling luminaries 
and to drawing public attention to Buffalo's Relay for Life, Gabrielle 
has written a book to help children cope with cancer, ``The ABCs of 
Childhood Cancer.'' Her book relates to children as only a young one 
can and relates to cancer patients as only one who has walked in their 
shoes can. But, in so many ways, her book demonstrates a young lady of 
startling maturity, grace, and poise.
  The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were started in 1995 as a 
partnership between Prudential Financial and the National Association 
of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). It is the Nation's largest 
youth recognition program based solely on volunteerism. Two high school 
and middle school students from each state and the District of Columbia 
are honored each year, with an additional 234 distinguished finalists 
also receiving recognition for their public service.
  This year, in addition to Gabrielle, Shanna Decker, a senior at 
Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School, will represent the great state 
of Minnesota as recipients of the award for 2008. Shanna has also had a 
personal experience with cancer as a young child and has also turned 
her difficult life lesson into a powerful example of hope and courage 
for other young people in this situation, spending more than 300 hours 
a year visiting young cancer patients in the hospital.
  An additional six outstanding Minnesota teens will be honored as 
Distinguished Finalists: Daniel Chahla of St. Paul, Carly Fischbeck of 
Inver Grove Heights, Joshua Hiben of Bloomington, Carissa Loehr of 
Eagan, Laura Maciosek of Minneapolis, and Aisha Moghul of Fridley. It 
is a true privilege to join Prudential, the NASSP, and their 
communities in honoring these outstanding examples of compassion and 
service. With all the regrettable news stories about the wayward path 
of today's youth, these young men and women renew our faith and refresh 
our hope.

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