[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 96 (Thursday, June 19, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       REMEMBERING LAURA LaPLANTE

 Ms. AYOTTE. Madam President, I wish to honor the life of Laura 
LaPlante--a law student from Hancock, NH, who was preparing to graduate 
from the University of Chicago Law School when her life was tragically 
cut short last month.
  Laura was a student at St. Patrick's School in Jaffrey and at ConVal 
Regional High School in Peterborough, from which she graduated in 2006. 
After attending Columbia University, she returned to New Hampshire and 
graduated in 2010 from UNH--where she was a scholar-athlete who was at 
the top of her class.
  Laura continued to distinguish herself as a student in law school, 
where she became a campus leader. In addition to serving as the 
president of the school's chapter of the Federalist Society, she also 
served as treasurer of the Law School Republicans. Additionally, Laura 
devoted her time and energy to the Saint Thomas More Society, the Law 
Women's Caucus, and the Edmund Burke Society.
  Laura was a vibrant young woman whose kind and generous spirit and 
commitment to excellence--touched the lives of everyone around her.
  A high school friend of hers said: ``Laura is the kind of person 
everybody wants to be.''
  And a former teacher and coach at ConVal said, ``She was the type of 
person that was always there for you''--adding that Laura was ``very 
selfless.''
  She brought that same trademark kindness to Chicago, where one of her 
law school classmates was quoted as saying: ``Laura was one of those 
people who would take the time to ask how I'm doing and actually 
listen.''
  These are just a few remembrances of this remarkable young woman. She 
was smart, outgoing, kind, and curious about the world around her. I 
know that Laura would have been an outstanding lawyer who brought 
intellect and integrity to the legal profession. And I also know that 
she would have continued to be a leader in her community.
  Tragically, we will never know the heights that Laura would have 
achieved. She was taken from us far too soon.
  As Laura's family and friends mourn her loss, I hope and pray that 
they will be comforted by their warm memories of her. She was a very 
special person whose uncommon kindness, caring spirit, and commitment 
to service brightened our world. Laura leaves behind an extraordinary 
legacy for all of us to carry on.

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