[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27611]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                     CONGRATULATING COURTNEY RAFES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 6, 2005

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Courtney Rafes 
of Justin, TX, on her commitment, contribution and success in this 
year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix. 
Courtney is the youngest daughter of Richard and Tommye Rafes of 
Denton, TX. Dr. Richard Rafes is the senor vice president for 
administrative affairs for the University of North Texas. Tommye Rafes 
is a science teacher at Gene Pike Middle School in Justin, TX.
  As part of a science project, Ms. Rafes devised a railroad warning 
system that uses ultrasonic sound to detect broken rails and to warn 
two trains before a collision. Working over a period of several weeks, 
Ms. Rafes collected data from eight experiments and more than 2,000 
tests run on a model train track system constructed in her living room.
  She was selected for the Intel International Science and Engineering 
Fair in Phoenix after earning a top honor with her railway project at a 
regional competition at the University of North Texas in Denton. At the 
national competition, Ms. Rafes earned a $20,000 scholarship from the 
Department of Homeland Security for her project and was offered an 
internship with an engineer for the department. Her project has been 
featured on the Today Show, CNN, ABC and the Discovery Channel.
  I extend my sincere congratulations to Ms. Courtney Rafes for her 
research and for receiving this commendable award. Her commitment to 
science and to helping others serves as an inspiration to all.

                          ____________________