[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 118 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING THE PLANO EAST AND PLANO WEST JROTC ACADEMIC TEAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 2009

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, congratulations are in 
order. This June, the Plano East JROTC Academic team placed fifth in a 
competition from schools around the globe in Washington, D.C. Out of 
1,645 Army JROTC programs, 72 teams (24 academic/48 leadership) from 
around the globe competed in Level III of the 2009 U.S. Army JROTC 
Academic and Leadership Bowl competition, the final level of the Army 
JROTC Academic and Leadership Championship. Plano East JROTC deserves 
special recognition for their achievement.
  In addition, on March 5th, the Plano East and Plano West Senior High 
School JROTC Academic Teams earned 1st and 3rd place honors, 
respectively, out of 198 teams/schools, in the U.S. Army JROTC 5th 
Brigade portion of the 2009 U.S. Army JROTC Academic and Leadership 
Bowl competition.
  The Panther JROTC Academic Team is comprised of: Team Commander c/1LT 
Zen Ren upcoming Senior, c/CSM James Untiedt upcoming Senior, c/1SG 
Amber VanHecke upcoming Junior, c/SSG Sabrina Gibson upcoming Junior. 
The two alternates were Plano East Senior cadets Mary Walker and 
Harrison Stone.
  Competition questions are based on the SAT, ACT, JROTC curriculum and 
current events. The test is administered jeopardy-style, via the 
Internet, with a 30 second time limit for each question. The team 
members are able to quickly read, discuss, and exchange information 
before finalizing an answer.
  According to Major (Ret) John Napoli, Jr., who serves as the Director 
of Army Instruction for the Plano Independent School District, ``we are 
proud of the academic accomplishments of all our students. This bowl is 
one of many ways we challenge our students on a daily, weekly, and 
monthly basis. Our foremost priority in JROTC is to the academic and 
professional development of all our students. In the last two years 
alone our graduating seniors have earned over $4.5 million in college 
scholarship monies.''
  The cadets and the Plano East Senior Army Instructor LTC (R) Bernard 
Aikens are shining examples of the future leadership and military 
excellence that you can only find in America.

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