[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2547-S2548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO NATALEE DEAETTE

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I would like to recognize a 
remarkable Vermonter, Natalee Deaette, who was recently selected as a 
2018 Truman scholar. Natalee is one of just 59 outstanding college 
students from across the country who was honored this year by the Harry 
S. Truman Scholarship Foundation with this prestigious graduate 
fellowship for young people who are pursuing careers as public service 
leaders.
  Natalee is a member of Boston College's class of 2019, where she 
studies applied psychology and human development, with a focus on 
community advocacy and social policy and a minor in managing for social 
impact. She is involved in BC's Undergraduate Government and Emerging 
Leader Program, the McGillycuddy Logue Fellows Program, the Montserrat 
Coalition, Appalachia Volunteers, and the Global Medical Brigades. 
These are all very notable activities and achievements that demonstrate 
the depth of Natalee's commitment to her community.
  What makes Natalee's story all the more impressive is that she broke 
through significant barriers to get to this place in her life. Natalee 
is a native of the most rural and economically challenged area of 
Vermont, where college graduation rates are well below the State and 
national averages. She is herself a first-generation college student 
and understands just how difficult it can be to navigate the world of 
higher education.
  While in high school, Natalee greatly benefited from participating in 
Johnson State College's acclaimed Upward Bound program, which helps 
motivated first-generation high school students prepare for college 
success. The experience so influenced Natalee that she has worked for 
the program for the past 3 years. She also credits Upward Bound for 
inspiring her to pursue a career in public service and addressing 
educational inequity among disadvantaged youth, particularly those from 
rural areas.
  I, like many Vermonters, am enormously proud of all that Natalee has 
already accomplished, and we look forward to what she will achieve in 
the future. I join with Natalee's friends and family in congratulating 
her for being named a Truman scholar and wishing her the best of luck 
in her future endeavors.

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