[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17277]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF MATTHEW S. COSTA

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today in memory of 
Matthew S. Costa, an outstanding young man from Cheshire, CT who died 
tragically on September 3. I am very saddened to hear of Matthew's 
death and will be keeping his friends and family in my thoughts and 
prayers during this difficult time.
  At the time of his death Matthew was serving in Mali as a volunteer 
for the U.S. Peace Corps. Matthew enrolled in the Peace Corps in 2003 
and had been serving in the Malian village of Kati since November 2005, 
after teaching English in Chad for 2 years.
  While in Kati, Matthew helped foster one of the Peace Corps core 
missions, fostering cultural exchange, by fully immersing himself in 
the local community. He taught English to local high school students 
and organized training for other teachers in the community. He was also 
widely known in the community as the host of a popular radio program 
that played popular American music and then worked with the radio 
station to improve its marketing strategy. Matthew also sought to 
involve himself with the village community by playing in a local soccer 
league and helping to distribute donations of sports equipment.
  What I think was truly remarkable about Matthew is that after 
graduating from Tulane University in 2003, a time in which there must 
have been unlimited opportunities open for Matthew to pursue, he chose 
to delay any future career plans to help others and broaden his 
cultural understanding. Matthew volunteered to travel many miles from 
home and, if necessary, to give up many of the modern conveniences we 
often take for granted. Matthew liked it so much, that in 2005 he 
extended his service. Matthew's sacrifice and dedication is truly 
inspiring.
  The passing of Matthew Costa is truly a loss for the Peace Corps, for 
the people of Mali, and for Connecticut. May his selfless devotion to 
helping others live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew him 
best and were served by his good works.

                          ____________________