[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 104 (Friday, July 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING CARL JUNCTION HIGH SCHOOL

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 19, 2013

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
seven young men and women of Carl Junction High School for winning the 
Destination Imagination Global Finals.
  The Destination Imagination Challenge is a global competition where 
students from all over the world imagine, create, and develop solutions 
to world problems in the areas of science, technology, engineering, 
mathematics, fine arts, and service learning. The problem solving 
competition is held over a four day period at the University of 
Tennessee-Knoxville where 1,200 local, state, and regional winners from 
45 states and 13 countries gather to compete in the global competition.
  The Carl Junction team put their device against 66 other teams 
competing in the area of wind energy and bested them all, including 
teams from Mexico, Singapore, China, Turkey, and South Korea.
  These outstanding world champion students include seniors JW Keckley, 
Parker Fitzgerald, Carter Richardson, Nate Demery, Morgan Ross, Julie 
Jones, and junior Abigail Danley. Through the team's hard work, 
dedication, and guidance from their gifted education teacher, Lori 
Good, the team was able to extensively research wind energy and 
incorporate the research into a technical device and presentation. Team 
member Parker Fitzgerald stated, ``The technical device was essentially 
a reduced-friction neodymium-magnet motor powered by compressed air. 
The device utilized the properties of magnets to precipitate motion 
without any physical contact between gears.''
  In addition to the global championship, the team also placed first in 
Destination Imagination's Instant Challenge. In this challenge, teams 
apply their quick-thinking problem solving skills to create solutions 
to challenges they have never seen before in as little as five minutes.
  I am proud of the job these brilliant young men and women performed. 
This is the first time a Missouri team at the elementary, middle level, 
or high school level has placed first at Destination Imagination Global 
Finals.

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