[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE WAIALUA HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAM, THE ``HAWAIIAN 
           KIDS,'' ON WINNING THE 2011 FIRST CHAIRMAN'S AWARD

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 29, 2012

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Waialua 
High School Robotics Team, the ``Hawaiian Kids,'' on winning the 
prestigious Chairman's Award at the 2011 FIRST Robotics World 
Championships and to recognize its impressive contributions to the 
founding and expansion of robotics in Hawaii. The FIRST Chairman's 
Award recognizes a program's contributions to robotics, service to 
other robotics programs, and overall excellence. Waialua High School 
was one of 48 teams nationwide competing for the prize.
  The judges of the 2011 FIRST Championship described the winning team 
as ``helping transform the region from an area of agricultural industry 
decline to one where the accomplishments of these students are 
celebrated as an indicator of promise for the future.'' All of the team 
members of the ``Hawaiian Kids'' graduate from high school, compared to 
the region's average of a less than 30 percent graduation rate, and all 
of the school's valedictorians in the past four years have been members 
of the robotics team. The team has shown great promise as science, 
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) leaders and innovators with 90 
percent of the members pursuing careers in STEM fields.
  Founded in 1999 by Glenn Lee, a Career and Technical Education 
teacher and electrical engineer, the Waialua High School Robotics 
Program has become a model for engaging students in STEM and college-
readiness courses. The ``Hawaiian Kids'' were the first FIRST Robotics 
Competition (FRC) team in Hawaii and initiated the development of other 
teams statewide. Its accomplishments have been shared with local 
government representatives, their community, and schools throughout our 
State. Today, close to one-third of Hawaii's high schools have an FRC 
team, the highest percentage of involvement in the Nation.
  While the ``Hawaiian Kids'' have experienced great success over the 
past few years, they continue to embrace their program's motto: ``It's 
not all about winning, it's about teamwork, commitment and 
responsibility.'' Congratulations to the members of the Waialua High 
School Robotics Team for all their accomplishments, their dedication 
sharing robotics and STEM education with their peers, and continuing to 
raise Hawaii's academic standards.
  Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much).

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