[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8580]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              HONORING OUTSTANDING NATIONAL HISPANIC YOUTH

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2000

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to recognize six 
students from San Diego County, California, who have been selected as 
finalists competing for National Hispanic Youth Awards. These students 
are among sixty finalists nationally. One of the six is a student in my 
51st Congressional District, Milenka V. Meneses of San Marcos High 
School.
  These outstanding Hispanic young people have been identified for 
their superior academic achievement, their leadership in their schools 
and their communities, and for their promise as positive role models 
for us all. If we believe that in America, every young person, from 
every ethnic background, deserves a fighting chance to achieve the 
American Dream, we need young people from every ethnic background to 
take the initiative to lead the way.
  Young people like Milenka Meneses are such leaders. They deserve our 
recognition, our honor, and our encouragement.
  I commend to my colleagues to read the following article from the San 
Diego Union-Tribune describing the recognition given to these fine 
young men and women. They are more than promising young leaders to the 
Hispanic community; they are young leaders for us all. They represent 
the best of America.

          Six Local Students Chosen as Latino Leader Finalists

       Six San Diego County high school students have been 
     selected as finalists in a nationwide search for top Latino 
     youth leaders.
       They will be among 60 students from across the nation 
     competing for six National Hispanic Youth awards. The winners 
     will be recognized at the Hispanic Heritage Awards annual 
     gala Sept. 7 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
     Arts in Washington, D.C.
       The six county residents selected to compete for the 
     national awards are: Seidy Gaytan of Sweetwater Union High 
     School; Laura Dawn Berumen of Montgomery High School; Abel 
     Aramburo of El Cajon Valley High School; Milenka V. Meneses 
     of San Marcos High School; Jose Barraza Jr. of Hilltop High 
     School; and Danika Marie Lacarra Markey of Helix High School.
       Because they were named regional finalists, each student 
     received a $1,000 educational grant, a personal computer from 
     CompUSA and a $500 donation to a community service 
     organization of their choice.
       The Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation was established 14 
     years ago to provide a greater understanding of the 
     contributions of Hispanic Americans in the United States and 
     to recognize and honor role models who inspire Latino youth.