[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 102 (Tuesday, July 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF CORTLAND JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL EIGHTH-
   GRADERS ON THEIR FIRST PLACE FINISH IN THE NASA SPACE SETTLEMENT 
                                CONTEST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD L. HANNA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2012

  Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Stephanie 
Passeri-Densmore's 8th grade English class at Cortland Junior Senior 
High School in Cortland, New York. Her class proudly won First Place in 
this year's NASA Space Settlement Contest.
  The members of this year's First Place team include: Lead Officers: 
Captain Caitlyn Ruggiero and Co-captain Justin Gower; Officers: Clayton 
Larson, Connor Zinn, Macayla Kemp, Matt Plunkett, Molly Doubet, Madison 
Wasley; and Crew: Seamus Mulhern, Julia Marshall, Rebecca Alteri, 
Hannah Burkhard, Justin Cavanagh, Christopher Dovi, Bogdan Kalytyuk, 
Adam Klaes, Luke Lang, Erica Moran, Kelsey Neville, Jonathon Phillips, 
Audrey Porter, Tiffany Rogers, McKenzie Stark, Mya Velazquez, Curtis 
Wilk.
  Mrs. Passeri-Densmore's 8th grade class began competing in the NASA 
Space Settlement Contest in March 1999 and every year since then they 
have placed among the top three finishers. The students create new 
entries every year.
  The students choose their own small groups that tackle specific 
topics needed for the survival of an orbital space settlement. The 
groups communicate during the process to make sure the different 
sections coordinate smoothly when they are put together at the end. The 
students are able to choose the shape and location of the settlements. 
Most years, the students have chosen to put their settlement in the 
Lagrange 5 position between Earth and the moon or in orbit around Mars. 
It is an honor for me to celebrate the continued success of Mrs. 
Passeri-Densmore's students. Proudly, Mrs. Passeri-Densmore has several 
former students who chose careers in space-related professions or 
university programs because they became excited and interested after 
their participation in the NASA Space Settlement Contest.
  Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in honoring of these 
students and this outstanding teacher, Mrs. Passeri-Densmore who is 
inspiring students to ask questions, to dream big, to open their minds 
and believe in themselves. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

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