[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 134 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S6805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATING KATHERINE KELLEY

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate a true 
role model in the Nevada community, Ms. Katherine Kelley. Ms. Kelley 
was crowned both Miss Summerlin and Miss Nevada and recently competed 
in the Miss America competition. I am truly honored to congratulate her 
on these great achievements.
  The Miss America pageant began in 1921 and is one of the world's 
largest scholarship providers to young women. The initiative focuses on 
creating change in the lives of others and contributes a great amount 
of charity work in communities across the country. This characteristic 
of giving exemplifies Ms. Kelley's everyday life as a teacher in the 
Las Vegas community, working to help children excel academically.
  Ms. Kelley, a Madisonville, KY, native, moved to Las Vegas in May of 
2014 and began working with Teach for America in hopes of helping with 
the local teacher shortage. She is currently pursuing her master's 
degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the College of 
Education, studying secondary math education. Along with pursuing her 
master's degree, she is also a geometry instructor at Mojave High 
School. Her initial passion for teaching began when she spent time 
volunteering in the Alabama public school system. Her experience there 
drove her in her aspirations to create positive change. Through Miss 
America, Ms. Kelley has had the opportunity to bring light to the 
importance of school attendance in low-income communities, as well as 
encourage students of both genders in their science, technology, 
engineering, and math studies. The scholarships that Ms. Kelley has 
earned through Miss America will allow her to finish her master's 
degree debt free.
  I know the citizens of the Silver State are proud to see a fellow 
Nevadan succeed in pursuing her dreams. Today, I ask my colleagues to 
join me in congratulating Katherine Kelley on this incredible honor. I 
wish her the best of luck as she serves as an ambassador for our great 
State and thank her for her work in helping Nevada's students.

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