[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING STUDENTS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 2009

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the achievements of several students in Northern Virginia. These 
students have participated and excelled in programs administered by 
their local Parent Teacher Associations and Parent Teacher Student 
Associations.
  Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) and Parent Teacher Student 
Associations (PTSA) serve a critical role in helping to provide the 
best possible educational environment for our students. The Northern 
Virginia District PTA consists of a region with more than 220 schools. 
Schools located throughout Northern Virginia are consistently 
recognized as being among the very best schools in our country. I 
strongly believe one factor in the excellent education received by our 
students is the high level of involvement and encouragement provided by 
parents through the PTA and PTSAs. At its annual meeting and dinner, 
the Northern Virginia District PTA recognized the following students 
for their outstanding achievements:
  In the category of District PTA Citizenship Essay Awards--High School 
Division the winners are Paul Capp, a senior at McLean High School, and 
Lisa Pang, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and 
Technology.
  In the category of District PTA Citizenship Essay Awards--Middle 
School Division the winners are Cali Willcockson, a seventh grader at 
Liberty Middle School, and Ji Soo Song, an eighth grader at Rocky Run 
Middle School.
  A separate special congratulations goes to Paul Capp of McLean High 
School for placing 3rd in the Virginia State PTA Citizenship Essay 
Contest--High School Division and to Ji Soo Song who won 1st place in 
the Virginia State PTA Citizenship Essay Contest--Middle School 
Division.
  The following students were recognized in the category of Virginia 
PTA Outstanding Interpretation Awards, which recognize artistic 
achievement: Literature: Senior Division--Alexander Kopenhaver, (9th 
grade), Washington-Lee High School. Music Composition: Primary 
Division--Pierre Quan, (2nd grade), Forestville Elementary School; 
Intermediate Division--Kyle Gatesman, (3rd grade), Canterbury Woods 
Elementary School. In Photography: Middle/Junior Division--Courtney E. 
Brown, (6th grade), Bull Run Elementary School. In Visual Art: Primary 
Division--Kaitlin Phan, (2nd grade), Colin Powell Elementary School; 
Intermediate Division--Jamie H. Chang, (5th grade), Union Mill 
Elementary School; Senior Division--William W. Park, (11th grade), 
Langley High School.
  The Frieda M. Koontz Scholarship Award has been awarded to Monica 
Choudhury, a senior at James Madison High School in Vienna. This 
scholarship awarded by the Virginia PTA will provide $1,200 to Ms. 
Choudhury as she begins her studies at the University of Virginia.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me today to recognize 
the outstanding achievements of these students. I also ask that we 
recognize the Northern Virginia District PTA, in partnership with the 
Virginia PTA, as they work diligently to develop the diversity of 
talents and skills of students attending schools throughout Northern 
Virginia. It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the achievements of 
these students and the Parent Teacher Associations that support them.

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