[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15357]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ANDREA WATKINS AND DENISS QUINTANILLA-
                                 CERON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 7, 2007

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend two 
outstanding seniors at Eastside High School in Paterson, Andrea Watkins 
and Deniss Quintanilla-Ceron. These young people are this year's 
recipients of the Nathan LeBron Scholarship Fund for their commitment 
to their education and to their futures.
  Eastside High School may sound familiar--it is the school featured in 
the 1989 movie, Lean On Me. Many of the young men and women who attend 
that school face a wide variety of challenges and must overcome much to 
achieve their goals for a brighter future. The LeBron scholarship is 
one way that the community can demonstrate its support for their 
endeavors. Both Andrea and Deniss possess the brilliance of spirit that 
will turn this small show of support into an extraordinary future.
  The scholarship is given in partnership with the Michelle Mitzvah 
Group of Beth Haverim. Both are named for people who exemplify 
perseverance and love of life. Nathan LeBron was a cancer survivor. 
Michelle was a young girl he met before she succumbed to leukemia. 
Nathan came from a troubled home, but with the love and support of 
Michelle's father, Marc Appelbaum, he went on to graduate college, earn 
a masters at Harvard, and head the IT operations at the Baseball Hall 
of Fame. The Mitzvah group seeks out opportunities to make the 
community a better place, with particular emphasis on brightening the 
lives who really need it--much as Marc Appelbaum did for Nathan LeBron 
in his youth.
  I commend the men and women who work with this scholarship fund and 
who make the social action mission of the Michelle Mitzvah Group come 
to life. And, I commend Andrea and Deniss for their accomplishments. 
There is little doubt that they, in turn, will do tremendous things to 
brighten the lives of others as well.

                          ____________________