[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 118 (Friday, June 26, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E580-E581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO TEDDY ALVAREZ-NISSEN--UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR IN 
                                THE ARTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2020

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Theodore 
``Teddy'' Alvarez-Nissen, who has been named one of 20 United States 
Presidential Scholars in the Arts for 2020.
  Teddy was born in Sacramento, California, on October 19, 2001, the 
son of two lifelong nonprofit and legal advocates, Lynn Alvarez and 
Steven Nissen. His talent in the arts was nurtured early in 
California's public schools, first at Lanai Road Elementary School, 
then at Robert A. Millikan Affiliated Charter & Performing Arts Magnet 
Middle, and finally at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
  Teddy's filmmaking journey began in earnest in fifth grade, when Ms. 
Karen Bennett's dedication and insight helped Teddy become one of the 
youngest filmmakers to compete in national film festivals across the 
country. Recently, Teddy has used his art to highlight social causes 
that are important to him, including creating media for the Los Angeles 
Ronald McDonald House, El Nido Family Centers, and Arts for 
Incarcerated Youth.
  Teddy plans to pursue his dream of making movies as a member of the 
2024 class of the prestigious University of Southern California School 
of Cinematic Arts with a major in Film and Television Production. 
Looking into the future and following in his parent's footsteps, Teddy 
hopes to start a nonprofit which pairs young artists with charitable 
organizations in order to create free informational and educational 
content.
  Apart from filmmaking, Teddy is an active member of his community 
through the California YMCA Youth & Government program. Throughout his 
four years of participation, Teddy has been a natural leader in this 
politically active community of over 3,500 teenagers throughout the 
state. His peers elected him California's 72nd Youth Lieutenant 
Governor in January 2020, and he has used this platform to champion 
youth initiatives ranging from criminal justice reform to combating 
food waste.
  Throughout his high school career, Teddy has consistently amplified 
student voices in politics. In the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High 
School shooting in Parkland, Florida, Teddy marched with a group of 
students on Los Angeles City Hall to speak out against gun violence. 
Before he could vote himself, Teddy helped to pre-register over 30 
percent of the eligible student body at his school to vote. As part of 
the Western Justice Center's ``Creating Bias-Free Classrooms'' 
initiative, Teddy acted in short plays and improv situations to help 
train teachers to combat racial prejudice in the classroom.
  It is no surprise that Teddy's dedication to the art of filmmaking 
and determination to use his talents to serve others is being honored 
by the White House and the U.S. Department of Education by naming Teddy 
one of 20 United States Presidential Scholars in the Arts.
  I ask all Members today to join me in celebrating this exceptional 
young man of California's 28th Congressional District, Teddy Alvarez-
Nissen.

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