[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6027-S6028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         COMMENDING LUCIA MOCZ

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I congratulate Mililani High School 
senior Lucia Mocz for winning the third place Addiction Science Award 
at this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, ISEF. 
With over 1,500 students participating from more than 50 countries, the 
Intel ISEF is the world's largest science competition for high school 
students. The awards were presented by the National Institute on Drug 
Abuse--NIDA--at a ceremony on May 14, 2009.
  I wish to acknowledge Lucia's technical skill, innovation, and 
creativity in creating her winning project. Lucia's computer science 
project, ``Complex Evaluation of Danger and Tranquility in Urban 
Settings: An Immunocomputing Intelligence Approach,'' used an 
artificial intelligence algorithm to generate highly detailed maps 
correlating indicators of danger and tranquility in the urban region of 
her hometown. While there are medical and behavioral science awards 
given by various public and private agencies, this is the first series 
of awards given exclusively for projects that advance addiction 
science.
  However, this young woman could not have achieved what she has done 
without the additional support and knowledge of science and social 
issues provided by her teachers. I commend the teachers at Mililani 
High School, who played a role in Lucia's success. Their dedication to 
instructing, nourishing and inspiring the next generation of 
professionals is exemplary. Her family is recognized as well for their 
commitment, sacrifice, and support that all helped to encourage and 
instill the important values that led to her award.
  I would also like to note NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow's comments 
that ``our judges recognized a provocative strategy that could one day 
help

[[Page S6028]]

us better understand how the built environment relates to patterns of 
drug abuse . . . This approach nicely mirrors the multidimensionality 
of the many factors known to influence the risk and consequences of 
drug abuse in our communities.''
  I encourage Lucia to continue to study and follow her passions for 
applied science and social issues. I wish nothing but the best for the 
her and her family and wish her continued success as she faces the 
challenges of college and beyond.

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