[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 154 (Thursday, October 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE ARCS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS

  Mr. KAUFMAN. Mr. President, I have spoken many times about the need 
for a renewed investment in scientific research and development. This 
includes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics--or, as we 
say, STEM--education.
  As a former engineer, I also know how important it is that research 
and innovation is fostered through both public and private investments. 
Over the years, many wonderful private organizations have been formed 
to promote STEM education. One of the very best is the national 
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists--or ARCS--Foundation, which 
is an excellent example of the type of investment I believe our country 
needs to make.
  ARCS was created in 1958 by a group of women in Los Angeles following 
the launch of Sputnik. Like many people at that time, the women saw a 
need to support American technological and scientific advancement, and 
they decided to create a scholarship program for students to pursue 
degrees in science, medicine, and engineering.
  Today, the all-volunteer, all-women organization has grown to 14 
chapters with a national membership of over 1,500. Thanks to the 
efforts of the dedicated women of the ARCS Foundation, nationally more 
than 13,000 scholarships have been awarded since the organization's 
inception.
  All ARCS recipients are U.S. citizens who have superior academic 
records and proven abilities in scientific research and development. 
They are recommended and selected by the deans and departmental chairs 
at universities that have been approved by the ARCS Foundation.
  This year, the local Metropolitan Washington Chapter of ARCS awarded 
20 scholarships to Ph.D. candidates and two scholarships to 
undergraduates:
  Ilana Goldberg, Monique Koppel, and Eric Patterson from Georgetown 
University.
  Brenton Duffy, Anna Korovina, Yi Jin, Jessica Stolee, and Bennett 
Walker from the George Washington University.
  Marcin Balicki, Stephanie Wilson Fraley, Eatai Roth, Bridget Wildt, 
and Bryan Benson from Johns Hopkins University.
  Brendan Casey, Stefanie Sherrill, Nathan Siwak, Seth Thomas, and 
Natalie Salaets from the University of Maryland.
  Theresa Bankston, Thomas Bliss, Ori Fox, and Rebecca Salomon from the 
University of Virginia.
  Scholarships were funded through contributions from ARCS members, 
Washington-area corporations and foundations, and various fundraising 
events. One hundred percent of all funds went directly to the scholars 
who received $15,000 at the graduate level and $5,000 at the 
undergraduate level. This year, several Washington-area corporate and 
foundation sponsors provided funding for full scholarships, including 
Lockheed Martin, American Council on Technology/Industry Advisory 
Council, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bristol-Myers Squibb, General Dynamics, 
Mars Foundation, McNichols Foundation, and Raytheon.
  None of these scholarships would be possible without the dedicated 
women of the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of ARCS. Betty Polutchko, 
the chapter's president, has worked tirelessly for the Foundation since 
she joined the local Washington chapter in 1992. Her leadership during 
her 2-year tenure has enabled the scholars to thrive.
  I recently had the honor of meeting this incredible group of scholars 
and learning about the fascinating research they are conducting. These 
students are discovering new ways for delivering pharmaceuticals and 
other medical treatments, inventing processes to reduce carbon dioxide 
and other pollutants, engineering aerospace systems, creating 
microsurgical robots, and much, much more.
  They are, without a doubt, the future of our Nation's leadership in 
science and technology, helping us to solve medical and environmental 
dilemmas and creating new products and systems that will continue to 
improve our lives and create new jobs.
  Engineers and scientists have always been the world's problem 
solvers. They helped us to land on the moon during the space race, the 
period when ARCS was founded. The foundation saw the need to foster the 
scientific and engineering potential of our Nation then, and they 
continue to do so today.
  The silver lining in today's financial crisis is the opportunity to 
shift our priorities in many positive ways. As America continues on its 
path toward economic recovery, we must inspire our students to address 
the extraordinary challenges facing our country and the world. What 
better way to encourage and promote this than through programs such as 
ARCS. I know that, when given the opportunity, a new generation of 
engineers and scientists will step up to meet these challenges. Indeed, 
they already are.
  Congratulations to the 2009-2010 ARCS Metropolitan Washington 
scholarship recipients.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Would the Senator withdraw his request?
  Mr. KAUFMAN. I withdraw my request and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The quorum call will be vitiated without 
objection.
  The Senator from New Mexico is recognized.

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