[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 86 (Thursday, May 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FRONT RANGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE INNOVATION CHALLENGE

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                           HON. ED PERLMUTTER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 19, 2022

  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate the team from Front Range Community College on becoming 
one of twelve finalists for the National Science Foundation's Community 
College Innovation Challenge (CCIC). This program asks small teams of 
U.S. community college students, alongside a faculty or administrator 
advisor, to craft innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Mathematics (STEM)-based solutions for real world problems. The CCIC is 
meant to encourage and highlight innovations by students coming out of 
two-year institutions that are typically underrepresented in the areas 
of STEM. Finalist teams will participate in an Innovation Boot Camp, 
which will provide immersion in the thinking, skills, and tools that 
help transform innovation into entrepreneurship. I congratulate all of 
the competition's participants for their work on a variety of important 
projects.
  The team at Front Range tackled challenges associated with oil spills 
through their innovative Orca method. Inspired by the unique feeding 
style of whales, the Orca Oil-Separating & Bio-Filtration Vessel 
deploys a new method of cleaning oil spills that is both inexpensive 
and quick. Oil spills have tremendous environmental and economic costs, 
particularly on local communities, and I applaud the Front Range team 
for their work on this important issue.
  I congratulate the Front Range team and their faculty advisor for 
their success. I applaud these students for their dedication to this 
important project and their leadership and commitment to STEM 
education, blazing a path for our country's future leaders and 
innovators. I am proud of the work Front Range Community College does 
every day and I look forward to seeing what the school and these 
students accomplish in the years to come.

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