[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 62 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. ADRIAN SMITH

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 2010

  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, we celebrated 
Global Youth Service Day--an annual campaign which celebrates the 
millions of young people who improve their communities each day of the 
year through service and self-discovery.
  Established in 1988, GYSD is the largest service event in the world 
and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries.
  As part of this effort, I have the pleasure in recognizing two young 
people who are making a difference in Nebraska communities.
  Sydney Swanson, a senior at Alliance High School, organized the first 
``Coats for Kids'' drive in Alliance. This year, she expanded it to 
three additional cities, collecting a total of 875 coats for children 
in need. Sydney also created a website with instructions for teens to 
start ``Coats for Kids'' drives in their own communities.
  Jordyn Lechtenberg, a senior at Ainsworth High School, founded and 
directly recruited 20 other high school students for the Youth 
Community Development Force, a group interested in community and 
economic development. She also served as interim executive director of 
the North Central Development Center while the director was on 
maternity leave.
  Young people like Sydney and Jordyn are essential assets and 
resources not only for their communities, but for our entire country. 
They have set a high benchmark, and I challenge every American to 
follow their example.

                          ____________________