[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8916]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATIONS TO PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY, WINNING EPA'S P3 AWARD

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2006

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, in 2003, the Environmental Protection 
Agency launched the P3 Award, a competition that focuses on the three 
components of sustainability: People, Prosperity and the Planet. Groups 
of undergraduate and graduate students from all around the country 
collaboratively design and develop projects that improve the 
environment, economy, and livability of their communities. These 
projects range from developing green tea polymers to treat cancer, to 
using bio-composite materials in load-bearing elements in buildings. 
All of the projects involved in the 2006 competition were innovative 
and novel, but only a few won the P3 Award, making them eligible to 
apply for grants of up to $75,000.
  Among the winners is a group from Portland State University in 
Oregon. Michelle Guthrie, Candy Lai Kuen, and Kristen Lans designed an 
educational and interactive website called WISE--Whole systems, 
Integrated Site design for Education. The website, hosted by a friendly 
and informative owl, guides students through a multi-step process to 
improve the sustainability of their school campus, and ultimately, get 
them interested in improving the sustainability of their communities at 
large.
  Portland State University has a long standing reputation for 
innovative and progressive thinking, offering programs that foster and 
promote sustainability, so it is no surprise that this award-winning 
project came from Portland State minds. The project, as well as the 
university community itself, serves as a strong example of the 
educational values we need to promote in this country.
  I want to congratulate the project adviser, Pramod Parajuli, and the 
entire university community on this tremendous success. Most of all, I 
congratulate these women whose combination of talent and commitment 
lead to the development of this exciting and valuable project. I am 
honored by their service to our community.

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