[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 41 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CONGRATULATING JAN GONG

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2011

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my 
constituent Jan Gong and congratulate her as she is named a finalist in 
the Intel Science Talent Search 2011. The Intel Science Talent Search 
is America's most prestigious science competition for high school 
seniors. Jan is one of only 40 finalists nationwide.
  Jan's project, ``The Effect of High Glucose Levels On Morphine 
Signaling in Mytilus Edulis: Novel Implications for the Treatment of 
Obesity and Diabetes,'' studied the addictive nature of sugar by using 
blue mussel as an animal model and found that high levels of glucose 
can regulate morphine receptors and cause morphine release, suggesting 
that sugar can be addictive. She also found that high levels of glucose 
can greatly increase the release of nitric oxide (NO), whose 
metabolites can contribute to vascular damage, but that naloxone, which 
counteracts the effects of morphine, and L-NAME, a NO synthase 
inhibitor, can block the effect of glucose on NO release.
  As a student at Garden City High School, Jan has participated in 
numerous science research programs including, Columbia University 
Science Honors Program, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY), 
Research Science Institute and Intel Science Talent Search. In 
addition, Jan has perfect SAT score, is first in her class of 275 at 
Garden City High School where she is captain of both the math team and 
the varsity fencing team, president of the Latin Honors Society, and 
principal cellist in the chamber orchestra. She has been recognized by 
the National Honor Society, American Chemistry Society, and Latin 
Honors Society and is a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.
  As a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I am 
truly impressed by Jan's accomplishments. I am pleased to see that Jan 
values not only her education, but also service and volunteerism within 
her community. In her spare time, Jan volunteers at the Winthrop 
University Hospital, arranges concerts at nursing homes and helps her 
fellow students as a peer tutor. Jan also expresses a deep affinity for 
the arts as an accomplished cellist. She has performed as the Principal 
Cellist with the Metropolitan Youth Concert Orchestra and has received 
perfect scores for five consecutive years during her participation with 
the New York State Scholastic Music Association.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with pride and admiration that I offer my 
congratulations to Jan Gong and commend her dedication to education and 
science.