[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATING THE JOHN GLENN HIGH SCHOOL SPELL BOWL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE DONNELLY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
the John Glenn High School Spell Bowl team of Walkerton, Indiana for 
winning the Class II Indiana Academic Spell Bowl held on November 12, 
2011 at Purdue University. Their score of 84 out of a possible 90 far 
surpassed runner up Plymouth High Schools' score of 75.
  The spellers practiced three times a week in preparation for their 
fifth consecutive state championship. The team consisted of Elly 
Alexander, Ariel Clark, Jake Coday, Ann Heckman-Davis, Cole Jacobson, 
Miranda Kafantaris, Kim Lord, Chris Mahank, Gabby Marek, Erin 
Patterson, Maddy Piedra, Paige Reed, Holly Rowe, Rebecca Shoue, J.J. 
Silvey, Justina Weiss, and Karena Weiss.
  The team is coached by Paul Hernandez who has led the school to 16 
state titles in 25 years. This outstanding achievement was recognized 
by the Indiana Association of School Principals who named Mr. Hernandez 
the 2011 Academic Coach of the Year. The only coach to win state Spell 
Bowl Championships in two different divisions, he is the English 
Department Chairman, tutors the Academic Decathlon Team and supervises 
the nationally recognized high school literary magazine, ``Aerial.''
  Again, I rise to offer my congratulations to the members of the John 
Glenn High School Spell Bowl team and their dedicated coach for their 
extraordinary accomplishments throughout the competition.

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