[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      GIRLS OF STEEL ROBOTICS TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 2013

  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Girls of 
Steel robotics team on winning the Engineering Inspiration Award at the 
2013 Pittsburgh Regional F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition.
  This is the second year in a row in which they have won the 
Engineering Inspiration Award. This prestigious award, which recognizes 
the team's outstanding efforts to advance respect for the engineering 
profession, also qualified the team to compete at the F.I.R.S.T. 
Championship in St. Louis for the third year in a row. The championship 
is the final and largest competition of the robotics season and 
features teams from across the world.
  F.I.R.S.T., which stands for ``For Inspiration and Recognition of 
Science and Technology,'' is an organization dedicated to introducing 
our youth to the world of science and technology. This year alone, 
hundreds of thousands of students are gaining practical, team-based 
engineering experiences by participating in F.I.R.S.T.
  As a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Robotics Caucus, I 
think competitions such as these are outstanding tools for getting 
students interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and 
math. I believe our nation's future economic growth and prosperity 
depends upon getting young people interested and engaged in scientific 
pursuits, and I want to commend organizations like F.I.R.S.T. for the 
important work they do in that regard. The F.I.R.S.T Robotics 
Competition instills a sense of pride in the individuals who 
participate in it and allows them to apply their natural creativity in 
the demanding and competitive field of robotics.
  The Girls of Steel team is made up of 40 young women from high 
schools in and around the Pittsburgh area. In recognition of their hard 
work, intelligence, and teamwork, I want to mention each of these 
inspiring young ladies by name. They are Sonia Appasamy, Katie Ashwood, 
Tammy Bevilacqua, Elizabeth Bianchini, Britt Bovbjerg, Aaminah Bray, 
Grace Brueggman, Dakota Calvert, Abby Ceraso, Tristan Close-Abuyen, 
Claudia Contreras, Laurel Donatelli, Samantha Eppinger, Clarisa 
Espinoza-Delgado, Mackenzie Ferris, Naoka Gunawardena, Heather 
Harrington, Rosanne Harrison, Kathryn Hendrickson, Imani Horton, 
Campbell Konrad, Elizabeth Kysel, Sylvie Lee, Sophia Lee, Shana Leshko, 
Pragna Mannam, Genevieve Nieson, Raina Oravec, Simran Parwani, Korryn 
Resetar, Kaylyn Rocher, Alex Roth, Rachel Round, Katie Shreve, Lynn 
Urbina, Molly Urbina, Bryce Volk, Becca Volk, Giulia Watkins, and 
Natalie Young.
  I also want to mention that one of the Girls of Steel--Naoka 
Gunawardena from The Ellis School--was one of two students at the 
Pittsburgh Regional who won the prestigious F.I.R.S.T. Dean's List 
Award, which recognizes student leaders who are outstanding at pursuing 
and achieving F.I.R.S.T.'s ideals.
  I also want to express my appreciation to the staff of the Carnegie 
Mellon University Field Robotics Center, which has mentored the Girls 
of Steel. As a result of their efforts, more young women are gaining 
real-world technological experiences which will certainly aid them in 
the future.
  I congratulate the Girls of Steel and wish them continued success in 
their academic and professional pursuits.

                          ____________________