[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1047]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           ROBERT DAVID SMITH

 Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I rise today to commend Robert 
David Smith for his commitment to excellence in academics and as a 
citizen. Robert attended Gilmer High School in his hometown of Ellijay, 
Georgia. While in High School, Robert was named the Class of 1996 
Valedictorian, 1996 USA Today All-Academic Team Scholar, winner of the 
1994 National Seiko Youth Challenge, Georgia Scholar, National Merit 
Finalist, and Senior Class President. He also received the 1995 
Governor's Proclamation, the 1995 and 1996 D.A.R. Good Citizen Award 
and the rank of Eagle Scout.
  In college, Robert has continued his commitment to academic 
excellence. Attending Harvard University, Robert is in his Junior year 
majoring in Economics. He has made Dean's List and been named a Harvard 
College Scholar.
  Robert's commitment to excellence has also been extended to the 
community. At home, he has served on the Gilmer County Comprehensive 
Planning Committee which analyzed its own environmental and financial 
problems. He also volunteered for the Cox Creek Project which worked to 
solve local sewage and landfill problems in Gilmer County. Finally, as 
a student at Harvard, Robert participates in the Park Street Project 
where he serves as a tutor at a local middle school, helping students 
excel.
  Once again, Mr. President, I would like to thank Robert David Smith 
for his commitment to academic and civic excellence. As we in Congress 
discuss possible reforms of our educational system, certainly we can 
use Robert as a model for the type of student we should be producing in 
our Nation's schools.

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