[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO CARA LASWELL, 2010 STATE WINNER OF LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 
                              COMPETITION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 28, 2010

  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Cara Laswell and 
congratulate her as a state winner of the Library of Congress 2010 
Letters About Literature competition.
  Letters About Literature is a program developed by the Library of 
Congress in partnership with Target Stores and state Centers for the 
Book. It aims to promote reading and writing to young people in fourth 
through twelfth grades across the nation. Students are encouraged to 
read a book, and then write a letter conveying their appreciation for 
the book and its impact on their lives to the author, living or dead. 
Of the 70,000 students from across the nation that entered the contest, 
a 25% increase from last year's competition. Cara was chosen as the 
2010 state winner by West Virginia's panel of judges, comprised of 
authors, editors, publishers, librarians, and teachers.
  The contest divided students into three divisions by age, and the top 
letter from each age level were chosen from the states. The youngest 
division included students from fourth through sixth grades. Cara 
Laswell from Fairmont wrote the winning Level 1 letter from West 
Virginia. Her letter was addressed to Jerry Spinelli about his book 
Stargirl. Cara attends Fairmont Catholic Elementary School, and her 
letter was submitted by her teacher Cynthia Garcia.
  It is an honor to pay tribute to Cara Laswell, a young student that 
has committed herself to scholarship in reading and writing. Bright 
young minds such as hers are truly the future of the Mountain State, 
and I wish her congratulations.

                          ____________________