[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 2907]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO ELIZABETH AMERICO

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a truly 
extraordinary young student from Connecticut. Elizabeth Americo of 
Guilford has recently been selected as one of Connecticut's two 
honorees in the 2006 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This honor, 
is given to only one high school student and one junior high school 
student in each state as well as the District of Columbia. A quick look 
at Elizabeth's record of community service shows her to be truly 
deserving of such recognition.
  Elizabeth, who is 17 years old and a junior at Guilford High School, 
is the founder and president of Students for Health and Social Justice, 
a club at her school that is dedicated to raising awareness and funds 
to assist needy people both in the United States and abroad.
  Elizabeth was first inspired to become involved in volunteer work by 
her older brother's work with impoverished Haitians. Upon arriving at 
Guilford High School her freshman year, Elizabeth decided she wanted to 
share her passion for helping others with her fellow students. The 
result was Students for Health and Social Justice, which now boasts 21 
members who meet regularly to discuss poverty and community health 
issues around the world and plan both awareness, and fundraising, 
events to address these issues. With hard work, creativity, and a deep 
commitment to helping others, the club has sponsored dances and other 
events to help raise money for health care programs in Haiti, relief 
aid for tsunami victims, UNICEF, and other causes. Elizabeth and her 
fellow club members have also not forgotten about the needy in their 
local community, organizing an impressive four-school-strong food drive 
for a local soup kitchen.
  Elizabeth's extensive record of volunteer service, done at such a 
young age, serves as an inspiring example to all of us about the 
difference we can make in our communities if we are willing to put in 
the time and energy. It is young people such as Elizabeth that give me 
great hope for the future of our country.
  In recognition of her achievements, Elizabeth will be invited to 
Washington in early May with the 101 other 2006 Spirit of Community 
honorees from across the country who were selected from a pool of 
several thousand nominees. While in Washington, 10 of the honorees will 
be selected as America's top youth volunteers of the year by a 
distinguished national selection committee cochaired by 2 of my 
distinguished colleagues, Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota and 
Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia.
  I wish Elizabeth the best of luck, both with this award and in all 
her future endeavors. I would like to end my remarks, Mr. President, by 
taking the time to thank Elizabeth Americo for the good work she has 
done and the work I am sure she will continue to do in the 
future.

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