[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO ALABAMA'S VESTAVIA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I would like to make some remarks 
today about Alabama's State champion and national finalist in the ``We 
the People'' competition. Vestavia Hills High School placed fourth in 
the national We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national 
finals, held in Washington, DC. This impressive competition, headed by 
the Center for Civic Education, engaged young people in the fundamental 
ideals and values of American constitutional government.
  Members of this remarkable team from Vestavia Hills included Grace 
Anthony, Georgiy Bolshinskiy, Barrett Bowdre, Courtney Bragg, Jeannette 
Dooley, Daniel Driscoll, Claire Foster, Sarah Graffeo, Lauren Howard, 
Sarah McKibben, Patrick Mulligan, John Nicholson, Tiffany Parrish, 
Hanna Perry, John Phillips, Joseph Siegel-
man, Mary Kendal Spires, William Edward Stevenson, Emily Unnasch, Amy 
Watson, Ryan Woodford, and Ansley Zarra.
  I congratulate Amy Maddox, the teacher who led this fine team. 
Teachers shape the future, and I appreciate Ms. Maddox's investment in 
these students. As a former educator and the father of three children, 
I have a great admiration for educators, and I am grateful that 
educators like Ms. Maddox are making a difference.
  I thank U.S. District Judge Karon Bowdre for her involvement and 
support of the Vestavia Hills High School team. Judge Bowdre is a 
person of great intellectual and academic ability who understands and 
reveres our Constitution. I am very proud that she has given of her 
talents to this worthy project.
  I thank Janice Cowin, the executive director of the Alabama Center 
for Law and Civic Education.
  I applaud the efforts of students, teachers, and community leaders 
who made this accomplishment possible. Vestavia Hills High School is an 
exceptional school and has represented Alabama well. I encourage these 
students to continue pursuing a deep understanding of the Constitution 
and our Government. It is important that we raise up quality leaders 
who will serve our country in years to come.

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