[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23487]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING YULIYA KOSTROMITINA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Yuliya 
Kostromitina, a student from McKay High School in Salem, Oregon. 
Yuliya, the daughter of immigrants from Russia, was selected as a 
delegate to the National Council for Community and Education 
Partnerships 2004 Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. As a 
result of the leadership demonstrated by Ms. Kostromitina, she was 
chosen as one of just four students nationwide, and one of forty 
internationally, to attend the 7th International Partnership Network 
Conference in London, England.
  Yuliya's achievement is proof that the GEAR UP program, or Gaining 
Early Awareness and Preparedness for Undergraduate Programs, in which 
she participates at McKay High, can help build great students. GEAR UP 
provides five-year grants to states and partnerships to provide 
services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP programs 
serve an entire group of students beginning in middle school and 
continuing through high school. Within each school GEAR UP funds are 
used to provide meaningful academic enrichment activities that result 
in systemic school improvement and increased student achievement that 
will prepare students to go to college. GEAR UP funds are also used to 
provide college scholarships to low-income students. With its emphasis 
on school improvement, GEAR UP dovetails well with the high standards 
set by No Child Left Behind and gives schools the resources needed to 
meet NCLB standards. This outstanding program helps at-risk students 
succeed in school and prepares them to attend college, an option many 
of them had previously considered out of reach. GEAR UP helps students 
from low-income backgrounds realize that they too can succeed in 
college and shows them the path to a better future.
  As Congress considers reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, I 
hope my colleagues will recognize the value of the GEAR UP program and 
continue to provide resources that will help students like Yuliya reach 
their potential.

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