[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E647-E648]
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--ANNA SHAPOVALOVA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 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 student 
shared, ``CYAC in the Community has

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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 the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council year 
     I participated in the Plano Teen Court program. This program 
     deals with underage teenagers who have committed class ``C'' 
     misdemeanor, whether it is a traffic violation, disturbance 
     of class, assault, or possession of drug paraphernalia. To be 
     able to participate in the role that I am honored enough to 
     have been able to land, that is, the role of one of the most 
     loved (or the most ill despised) people in the court room 
     (chiefly, rotating between the prosecuting and defense 
     attorney positions), I had to undergo a training session. The 
     training was aimed at making me acquainted with the more 
     simple aspects of the judicial system, with the proper way to 
     carry myself in a court of law, and with oratory skills 
     necessary for proper presentation of the circumstances. As a 
     Teen Attorney I defended/prosecuted the defendants, in order 
     to give them a punishment, consisting of simple court fees 
     and community service. This community service, with 
     specialized hour ranged being given for each offense. A panel 
     of peers, teenagers who have volunteered their time to 
     admonish a punishment that they feel is fair to the 
     miscreants.
     --Anna Shapovalova

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