[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 81 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H4141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING DYLAN RHEKER AS MACOMB COUNTY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Mitchell) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize recently named 
Macomb County Volunteer of the Year, eighth-grader Dylan Rheker.
  Dylan, age 14, volunteers at the Village of East Harbor senior living 
facility, at Francis A. Higgins Elementary School, at the Anna Mae 
Burdi Early Childhood Center, as well as Selfridge Air National Guard 
Base and the Roseville Community Schools.
  However, what is also impressive, in addition to Dylan's giving 
spirit, is his perseverance. You see, Dylan was born with 
neurofibromatosis, a condition which causes tumors to form in his 
brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Dylan was also diagnosed with cancer 
and has been undergoing chemotherapy for the past 4 years.
  None of this deters the straight-A student as he helps people across 
the 10th Congressional District. In fact, Dylan recently set a school 
volunteer hour record, with 236 hours of volunteer service last year. 
When asked about his volunteerism, Dylan responds that he is ``happy to 
help'' and ``always here if someone needs help.''
  Dylan is an outstanding young man, and I am extremely proud of all 
the work he does in our district to make the community a better place 
to live and work. I wish him the best of luck in the future, and I hope 
all of you will as well.


   Recognizing Carla Villalvazo as Winner of 2018 Congressional Art 
                              Competition

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carla 
Villalvazo, a high school student from Eisenhower High School in Shelby 
Township, Michigan. Carla is the winner of the 2018 Congressional Art 
Competition for my district. Her artwork titled ``Forget Me Not'' is a 
watercolor painting which will hang in the Cannon tunnel of the Capitol 
for the next year.
  Importantly, it is not only wonderful artwork, it talks about the 
struggle the family has with a family member with Alzheimer's. It is 
great artwork, but it also touches my heart and, I think, many others.
  I also recognize second-place finisher Stefanie Frontera, also from 
Eisenhower High School, and third-place finisher Christina Berels from 
Cardinal Mooney High School. These students all submitted wonderful 
pieces of art. The second- and third-place winners will hang in my 
office.
  I thank them all for their submission.

                          ____________________