[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 70 (Wednesday, May 16, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E811-E812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING THE OUR LADY OF LOURDES ACADEMY CONSTITUTION TEAM

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                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2012

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Our 
Lady of Lourdes Academy Constitution Team for yet another remarkable 
performance in the annual We the People Competition. Having won the 
right to represent the State of Florida by winning the State 
Championship in January, Lourdes came to Washington DC and placed an 
impressive 7th place nationally.
  For 25 years, the We the People Competition has helped further civic 
education and awareness by testing students' depth of knowledge and 
ability to apply constitutional principles to both historical and 
current issues. The competition, conducted on the campus of George 
Mason University and in hearing rooms of the U.S. House of 
Representatives, takes the form of simulated congressional hearings. 
Students testify as constitutional experts before panels of judges 
acting as congressional committees who then score the groups.

[[Page E812]]

  The hard work and research put in by the team is a testament to their 
commitment to civic education, as well as to the guidance and 
instruction of their teacher Rosalie Heffernan. I know I join all of 
South Florida in expressing our pride and admiration for the Our Lady 
of Lourdes Academy Constitution Team and their remarkable 
accomplishment. Congratulations to: Paula Abarca, Emily Bezold, 
Michelle Bueno, Gabriela Corzo, Oliva Diaz de Villega, Amelia Garcia, 
Patricia Garcia-Linares, Gabriela Hildalgo, Anne-Marie Hunter, 
Alexandra Lazcano, Maria Mendoza, Fabiola Navarro, Caitlin Opperman, 
Rachel Perez, Kelsey Quigley, Brigette Quintana, Cristina Sanchez, 
Veronica Sanchez, Kiara Taquechel, Tiffany Valenti and Clarisse Vamos!

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