[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING NAVAJO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--LEGO ROBOTICS TEAM ROBOBUFFS

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                         HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 18, 2010

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Navajo 
Elementary School's Lego Robotics Team, in Scottsdale, Arizona. 
Building upon their STEM focused education, nine extraordinary students 
made it to the semi-finals at the FIRST LEGO League State Championship 
which I attended at ASU's Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering this past 
winter.
  As a teacher for almost 28 years, I understand the importance of 
hands-on learning experiences and real-life scenarios that help 
students connect learning in the classroom to the real world. I believe 
that Navajo's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) 
curriculum is key to creating a learning environment that fosters 
innovation and creativity.
  The kind of teamwork and creative thinking that was shown in the 
RoboBuff's design is going to help return our country to economic 
prosperity. Any one of these students might be the next Bill Gates.
  Navajo Elementary is giving its students a head start, preparing them 
for college and beyond. In this competition, they are not only taking 
math and science curriculum to the next level through problem-solving 
and experimentation, but are learning life skills.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the extraordinary 
achievement of the Navajo Elementary School Lego Robotics Team: 
Tatianna Walker, Hailey Freeman, Nick Lowry, Tino Velez, Michael 
Majercin, Chad Bonfanti, Wade McEachern, Abby White and TJ Smith, along 
with the exceptional leadership of their coaches Cathy White and Chip 
Bonfanti, and their mentors Dr. Christine Loots, Dr. Bill Johnson, Jim 
Deng, Alicia Payne and David Schaeffer.

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