[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 31, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF LAURA KAVAZANJIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 31, 2011

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to mourn the passing of 
an outstanding young woman in my congressional district whose life was 
cut short in a tragic car accident on May 28th. Laura Kavazanjian of 
East Setauket, New York, was only 27 years old but already she was 
committed to making a difference in the lives of others.
  Laura had recently completed a master's degree in international 
education policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education that 
focused on access to education for marginalized girls. She valued her 
own education and was passionate about creating opportunities for young 
women in the developing world to have the same access to learning.
  After earning her undergraduate degree from Brown University, Laura 
worked as a program officer for the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS 
Initiative in Mumbai, India designing and implementing a care and 
support program for more than 4,000 children living with HIV. She also 
conducted research in Malawi and worked for Save the Children and CARE 
for the Power to Lead Alliance, a program aimed at developing 
leadership among adolescent girls in six countries. Laura was on her 
way home from her five-year reunion at Brown with her fiance, David 
Reidy, when the car accident occurred.
  In addition to her academic prowess, Laura was also a leader on the 
athletic fields, and played field hockey at Ward Melville High School 
and at Brown. I had the pleasure of meeting her when she worked in my 
district office as an intern and later on my campaign for re-election 
to Congress in New York's first district.
  Indeed, Laura was a young woman of great promise with the motivation 
and the ability to realize her laudable goals. She had accomplished 
much in her short life, and I am sure she would have realized many 
other achievements.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of New York's first congressional district, I 
express my heartfelt sorrow to Laura's family, fiance and friends 
following this tragic loss. We will always remember Laura Kavazanjian 
with love and appreciation, and her memory will live on in our hearts.

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