[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 15941]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE STUDENTS OF EUREKA, SOUTH DAKOTA

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
achievement of the town of Eureka, SD. Eureka has the honor of being 
the only South Dakota town where three students have won the National 
Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship.
  The Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship is awarded each year to 9 
outstanding high school juniors in each state and the District of 
Columbia. These students are selected based on their leadership skills, 
special talents, personal obstacles, and commitment to community 
service.
  In South Dakota, the state winners for 2003 hail from such cities as 
Aberdeen, Brookings, Eureka, Milbank, Presho, Salem, Sioux Falls, and 
Sturgis. Out of these winners, the top three students are selected to 
compete with students from across the country for 9 national-level 
scholarships, and it is in this category that the town of Eureka has 
excelled.
  Since the award was first created 12 years ago, only 4 South Dakotans 
have won at the national level, beginning with Lori Heilman Leidholt of 
Bowdle, South Dakota, in 1994. The other 3 come from Eureka.
  Sarah Anderson won her scholarship in 2000. Sarah is an award-winning 
photographer and a tireless advocate for diabetes education. Her 
renowned kitten calendars sell throughout the state and help raise 
funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
  As a diabetic herself, she is able to draw from her own experiences 
as she speaks with adults and children across South Dakota about the 
disease. In 1999, she successfully lobbied the South Dakota Legislature 
to enact legislation expanding health insurance coverage for diabetic 
supplies and equipment.
  Loni Schumacher was next in 2002. A member of her local chapter of 
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, she was selected to 
visit Japan in 2001 on a 6-week exchange.
  An only child, she has since adopted ``sisters'' from across the 
globe. Experiencing a new culture broadened her view of the world, and 
she has brought those ideals back home to Eureka where she and her 
family have opened their family farm to exchange students from Brazil 
and Germany.
  Loni has also been closely involved in her school's ``Teens Against 
Tobacco Use'' organization, and teaches elementary school students 
about the hazards of tobacco use.
  Amanda Imberi is Eureka's winner for 2003. I had the honor of meeting 
this young woman when I visited Eureka several weeks ago. Just last 
week, here in Washington, I presented her with the 2003 Tradition of 
Caring Jefferson Award.
  At the age of 9, Amanda lost her mother to cancer. She had to grow up 
faster than any child should.
  Even with all of her schoolwork, cooking, and managing the family's 
finances, she has still found the time to be active with the American 
Cancer Society, speaking at rallies across the state on the importance 
of cancer awareness and prevention, as well as producing a variety show 
style fundraiser at her high school.
  Two more Eureka students have won the scholarship at the state 
level--John Ostrowski in 1997 and Alisha Lutz in 1998. For a town of 
approximately 1,200 people, that is a remarkable achievement. It is not 
only an indication of the desire to succeed shared by these students, 
it is also a testament to the quality of teachers and schools that 
produced such outstanding young adults.
  I don't know what they are putting in the water in Eureka but, 
whatever it is, I hope they continue. These young people are an 
inspiration to their communities and their fellow students. They have 
proven there is no obstacle you cannot overcome, and that you should 
always pursue your dreams.
  I commend them and the entire town of Eureka for their achievement, 
and hope to see even more Discover Card Tribute Award winners from 
South Dakota in the future.

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