[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 108 (Thursday, July 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING MISS CALIFORNIA 2013, CRYSTAL LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 2013

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Miss California 2013, 
Crystal Lee, who will be competing in the prestigious Miss America 
pageant this September.
  A lifelong Bay Area resident, Crystal competed as Miss Silicon Valley 
against 60 other outstanding young women at the Miss California Pageant 
earlier this year. Through five phases of competition, including 
interview, physical fitness in swimsuit, evening wear, on-stage 
question and talent, Crystal rose to the top. During preliminary 
competition nights, she even took top honors for her evening gown 
presentation and her ballet en pointe performance of ``The Dying 
Swan.'' The latter should come as no surprise, since Crystal is an 
accomplished dancer who has been perfecting her technique for the last 
13 years.
  Winning the title of Miss California earned Crystal more than $14,000 
in scholarships. Over her four years of competing in the Miss America 
program, including in 2008 when she was Miss California's Outstanding 
Teen, Crystal has earned more than $30,000 in scholarships. These 
awards were well spent, as Crystal graduated this past June from the 
venerable Stanford University. Proving that our Miss California has 
both beauty and brains, Crystal worked as a research assistant in the 
psychology, biology, virtual reality and drama departments and 
graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology and a Master's 
Degree in Communications.
  Crystal will put her Stanford education and Silicon Valley roots to 
good use through her Miss California platform Girls in S.T.E.M. 
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). She's been a steadfast 
advocate for women to study and choose careers in STEM after she 
experienced firsthand a gender imbalance in her own classes and 
multiple internships at male-dominated technology start-ups. She's 
worked hand-in-hand with the Girl Scouts of America to help young girls 
understand engineering principles and earn their technology badges.
  With perseverance, hard work and a little luck, Crystal will be able 
to continue her STEM platform at the national level as Miss America. 
California is fortunate to have such a strong and successful young 
woman representing us. This year's Miss America pageant will take on 
special meaning when it returns to its birthplace in Atlantic City 
after seven years away and no doubt it will be a memorable experience 
for all the young women participating. However, there is one I'll be 
cheering for most. To Miss California 2013, Crystal Lee, I wish nothing 
but the best of luck in her pursuit of the Miss America crown.

                          ____________________