[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 93 (Monday, June 27, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S4124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                HAWAII 2011 NATIONAL HISTORY DAY WINNERS

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate a group 
of exceptional students and teachers from the State of Hawaii for their 
participation in the 2011 Kenneth E. Behring National History Day 
Contest. This year's theme, ``Debate and Diplomacy in History: 
Successes, Failure, Consequences,'' was the starting point for student 
projects nationwide.
  The National History Day, NHD, is a highly regarded academic program 
for elementary and secondary school students. Each year, over a half a 
million students participate in the NHD contest where students choose 
historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and 
secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history 
interviews and historic sites. Once students draw their conclusions 
about their topics' significance in history, they present their work in 
original papers, Web sites, exhibits, performances and documentaries. 
The projects are entered into competitions in the spring at local and 
state levels where they are evaluated by professional historians and 
educators. National History Day culminates with the Kenneth E. Behring 
National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park each 
June.
  This year, two student teams from Hawaii received national honors. 
Kamaile Aluli, Kaylee Alana Miller and Truman Spring from Laie 
Elementary School placed first in the junior Web site competition with 
their entry titled, ``Between a Rock and a Hard Place: the Battle over 
Hetch Hetchy.'' Their teachers are Serena Tuliloa and Colleen Spring. 
Moanalua High School students Janal Kim, Keri Ann Nagaishi and Kelly 
Zakimi took second place for their senior group exhibit, ``Creation of 
Pakistan.'' Their teacher is Angela Brooks.
  As a former educator, I am pleased to see our keiki succeeding on a 
national level. Throughout my career in Congress, I have worked closely 
with my colleagues to ensure that students in Hawaii and the nation 
have quality teachers, schools and academic programs. The Kenneth E. 
Behring National History Day Contest is one such program that offers 
children who have a passion for history, a way of rewarding them for 
their hard work.
  Once again I offer my sincere congratulations and aloha to all the 
students and teachers who participated in the 2011 Kenneth E. Behring 
National History Day Contest and wish them all success in their 
academic futures.

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