[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E636-E637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 2010-2011 CONGRESSIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR 500 
      HOURS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY--GRANT POWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2011

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and 
privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of 
Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth 
Advisory Council, CYAC, from the Third District of Texas have completed 
a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing 
the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service 
project.
  This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in 
grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the 
Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high 
school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current 
events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an 
important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back 
to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with 
over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, 
Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one

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student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my 
calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled 
that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase 
their dreams.
  President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who 
can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. 
Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, 
but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in 
civilization.''
  With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the 
members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for 
showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It 
is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional 
Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young 
public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you!
  A copy of each submitted student summary follows:

       For my CYAC community service project, I volunteered as an 
     attorney at the Collin County Teen Court, providing 30 hours 
     of service between October 2010 and January 2011. The mission 
     of Teen Court is to teach first-time juvenile misdemeanor 
     offenders a lesson by sentencing the defendants with service 
     hours and jury duty. The jury at Teen Court hears the 
     testimony of the defendants and the arguments of the 
     attorneys in order to come to a decision. A judge presides 
     over the court proceeding and makes the court session formal 
     and official. Teen Court is vital to the lives of young 
     people in the Collin County community. Not only do the 
     defendants in Teen Court begin to strive for better 
     character; the jury members that hear the testimony of the 
     defendants make sound changes in their own lives also. 
     Through my work at Teen Court I have helped the teens who 
     have made poor judgment. My job as an attorney has been 
     crucial to bring the facts of the cases to the jury so that 
     they can deliver fair verdicts. In addition, my experience in 
     the Teen Court has inspired me to consider law as a potential 
     career choice.
     --Grant Powell

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