[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 151 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING NATIONAL SPELLING BEE CHAMPION, FINALISTS, AND 
                              PARTICIPANTS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2010

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
1494.
  Our nation's future rests on the shoulders of our youth, and the 
exceptional dedication and intelligence displayed by all of the 
students who took part in the 84th Scripps National Spelling Bee 
earlier this year gives me great confidence that our future will be a 
bright one.
  As the largest and longest-miming educational promotion in the United 
States, this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee brought together 273 
spellers from all over the United States and across the world. The 
rigorous preparation and diligence required by these students to 
compete at this international level is truly incredible.
  I would specifically like to recognize Shantanu Srivatsa, a student 
at Cheney Middle School in West Fargo, North Dakota, for tying for 
second place in this competition. This was Shantanu's third consecutive 
appearance at the Spelling Bee, and I was impressed to learn that his 
favorite subject in school is in fact mathematics, and that in addition 
to his participation in the spelling bee, he also represents his school 
at regional and state mathematics competitions.
  When reviewing the words Shantanu correctly spelled to make it to the 
highest levels of the competition, I am astounded by his command of the 
English language. Though I represent a state with a large sugar beet 
industry, I must admit that I did not know that a cossette was part of 
the sugar refining process--and I certainly did not know how to spell 
it. Thanks to Shantanu, I now know that it is cossette, C-O-S-S-E-T-T-
E.
  Lest this example lead one to suspect that Shantanu's vocabulary was 
limited to the geographically proximate--his correct spelling of 
schlieren, that would be S-C-H-L-I-E-R-E-N, clearly demonstrates that 
the breadth of his knowledge includes subjects, or more precisely 
substances, that would be exceedingly rare in North Dakota due to the 
geologic history of the northern Great Plains.
  Students like Shantanu and all of the other participants in this 
competition not only represent the best students in our nation, but 
also exemplify the ideals of hard work, dedication, and poise that are 
an inspiration to us all.
  Please join me in supporting all of the Scripps National Spelling Bee 
participants who have demonstrated the highest levels of academic 
achievement by supporting this resolution.

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