[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S3355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               NEW MEXICO'S NATIONAL SCIENCE BOWL WINNER

 Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, today I congratulate a group of 
middle school students from Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque, NM, for 
winning the top prize at this year's National Science Bowl. This is an 
outstanding and well-deserved achievement after all their hard work 
throughout this competition, both in Albuquerque and here in 
Washington, DC.
  Every year since 1991 the U.S. Department of Energy has sponsored the 
National Science Bowl to encourage high school students to excel in 
mathematics and science. In 2002 a contest was introduced for middle 
school students, which now involves more than 5,000 students 
nationwide. This year there was an academic question and answer 
competition as well as a model hydrogen fuel cell car challenge. By 
encouraging math and science education, competitions like these are 
helping to create a technically trained and diverse workforce for this 
generation and the next.
  Teammates Andy Chen, Jason Frank Hou, Ben Zolyomi, Eric Li, Raya 
Koreh, and their coach Barbara Gilbert came to Washington, DC, to 
compete against 37 middle school regional Science Bowl champions in the 
National Finals. On Monday, May 3, they answered many challenging 
questions pertaining to biology, geology, and other areas of science. 
They even answered a few bonus questions from First Lady Michelle 
Obama, who later awarded them their trophy, along with Secretary of 
Energy Stephen Chu. I realize how much studying it takes to prepare for 
a competition as rigorous as this, and I commend them on their hard-
earned reward. It has certainly paid off. Their success should be 
applauded as this truly is a remarkable feat.
  When they return home to New Mexico, I hope their fellow students and 
teachers are as encouraged as I am by their accomplishment. It is 
vitally important that talent like this doesn't go unnoticed as these 
young students will likely be among those helping to find solutions to 
some of the future's most challenging problems. I believe this team's 
success demonstrates how the United States, and New Mexico in 
particular, has potential to produce some of tomorrow's scientific 
leaders and innovators. That is why I hope these students will continue 
to pursue their intellectual interests and one day join a critical 
sector within our workforce.
  I have always believed that investing in science and technology in 
our schools is essential in ensuring that the United States maintains a 
competitive edge to provide for our nation's economic strength and 
security. Our students' success depends on the quality of their 
educational opportunities today, and the talent demonstrated by these 
students makes me very optimistic about the future.
  Again, I commend them on this outstanding achievement and wish them 
the best of luck in the future.

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