[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ABIGAIL SELDIN OF TIERRA VERDE, FLORIDA EARNS PRESTIGIOUS RHODES 
                              SCHOLARSHIP

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                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 22, 2009

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I 
rise today to honor Abigail Seldin, a constituent from Tierra Verde, 
Florida I have the privilege to represent, who has earned a prestigious 
Rhodes Scholarship.
  Abigail has studied anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania 
and plans to graduate in May with both a Bachelor's and Master's 
Degree. She put her studies to use in the field of anthropology to 
amass an in-depth knowledge about the little-known Lenape Indian Tribe 
of Pennsylvania. Because of her dedication, Abigail was also named the 
first undergraduate curator of an exhibit at the University of 
Pennsylvania's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
  With 769 applicants this year, the Rhodes Scholarship is a revered 
prize awarded only to those with the highest level of academic success 
and Abigail is one of only 32 students nationwide to receive this 
award. She joins a long history of distinguished Americans who have 
made the journey overseas to participate in international study at 
England's prestigious Oxford University.
  Madam Speaker, I would also like to congratulate Abigail's parents 
and sisters as well as all of her past and present teachers for 
inspiring her to reach her goals and beyond. Following my remarks, I 
will include for my colleagues a story about Abigail's accomplishments 
as reported by Rita Farlow of The St. Petersburg Times.
  At a time when we are encouraging students to strive for educational 
excellence, I would urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
Rhodes Scholar Abigail Seldin as she is a symbol of what is right about 
our nation's schools and universities and to wish her luck in her 
future studies at Oxford University.

             [The St. Petersburg Times, November 24, 2008]

                    Pinellas Woman a Rhodes Scholar

                            (By Rita Farlow)

       A University of Pennsylvania student from Tierra Verde is 
     among this year's winners of the prestigious Rhodes 
     Scholarships.
       Abigail P. Seldin, a 20-year-old anthropology student, 
     organized an exhibit about the previously unknown history of 
     Lenape Indians that is now on display at the University of 
     Pennsylvania Museum.
       Seldin is one of 32 men and women from across the United 
     States to win the scholarships for study at England's Oxford 
     University. Winners were officially announced Sunday, but 
     Seldin received the news after an interview with a selection 
     committee on Saturday.
       ``I was shocked,'' Seldin said. ``I didn't say anything for 
     about five minutes. I managed `Thank you' and `I'm honored' 
     but my mind was blank.''
       Seldin, who plans to graduate in May with a bachelor's and 
     a master's degree in anthropology, became the first 
     undergraduate to curate an exhibit at the university's Museum 
     of Archaeology and Anthropology.
       History books say the Lenape tribe left Pennsylvania by 
     1803, Seldin said, but there were some who stayed behind, 
     intermarrying with whites but quietly continuing their 
     indigenous ways through the generations.
       Seldin said she admired the survival of cultural traditions 
     despite the difficulty involved in maintaining them in 
     secret.
       Seldin said she will postpone plans to co-author a book 
     with Chief Robert Ruth of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania 
     while she studies social anthropology abroad.
       Though her family lives in Tierra Verde, Seldin attended a 
     boarding school at Phillips Academy Andover in Massachusetts. 
     She graduated in 2005.
       She is not the only 2008 Rhodes winner with Florida ties.
       Florida State University college football star safety Myron 
     Rolle, who had to miss part of Saturday's game against 
     Maryland for his Rhodes interview, also received the award.
       Rolle, of New Jersey, is a pre-med student and hopes to 
     become a neurosurgeon.
       ``It was a very exciting day, and I'm thrilled to have the 
     opportunity to study at Oxford,'' Rolle said after arriving 
     in College Park, Md., to play in the second half of the game.
       Well-known Rhodes scholars from the United States include 
     former President Bill Clinton, former basketball star and 
     Sen. Bill Bradley, author and social critic Naomi Wolf and 
     former Gen. Wesley Clark.
       The winners were picked from 769 applicants endorsed by 207 
     colleges and universities nationwide. The students will enter 
     Oxford University in England--the world's oldest English-
     language university--next October.
       Created in 1902, the scholarships are the oldest of the 
     international study awards available to American students and 
     provide for two or three years of study. The scholarships 
     have an estimated value of $50,000 for each year of study.
       Since the program's inception, 3,164 Americans from 309 
     colleges and universities have won Rhodes Scholarships.
       This report includes information from the Associated Press 
     and Times archives. Rita Farlow can be reached at 
     [email protected] or (727) 445-4162.

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