[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 19 (Friday, February 3, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING MS. NAOMI BASHKANSKY FOR HER PERFORMANCE AT THE 2016 WORLD 
                       SCHOOL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 3, 2017

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ms. Naomi 
Bashkansky of Bellevue, Washington for her victory at the 2016 World 
School Chess Championship. Like many other students of Olde Middle 
School, Naomi works every day to balance extracurricular activities, 
family commitments, and school life. With the help of coaches, 
teachers, and family, she strives to mold her own unique identity as a 
student, a friend, a daughter, and a citizen. Although many aspects of 
Naomi's life may be familiar to us all, there was nothing ordinary 
about her performance at the chess championship.
  Naomi's accomplishment and strength of character are deserving of the 
highest level of praise. Naomi not only out-performed 400 young chess 
players representing 3o different countries, but she graciously 
represented the people of the 9th Congressional District and the United 
States of America.
  During the competition, Naomi's path to victory was not always clear; 
she suffered some early losses and could have easily admitted defeat, 
but she did no such thing. As she competed in the championship round, 
she bore not only the weight of her own expectations, but also the 
burden of representing the nation. At such a young age, Naomi's courage 
and determination is certainly extraordinary. I know I will continue to 
hear about her achievements for years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Ms. Naomi 
Bashkansky on a hard-earned victory and wish her the best of luck in 
the future.

                          ____________________