[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7268]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF THE MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL CAR TEAM

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                          HON. BRAD ELLSWORTH

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2008

  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Mater 
Dei High School Car Team from Evansville, Indiana. The students won the 
Shell Eco-Marathon fuel efficiency competition in Fontana, California.
  The Shell Eco-Marathon challenges students to design and build 
vehicles that push the energy efficiency envelope. The competition is 
also designed to raise awareness about the importance of technology and 
innovation in finding solutions to the energy challenges we face.
  Mater Dei entered two vehicles in the competition and placed first 
and third, beating more than 80 teams. The first-place vehicle achieved 
an impressive 2,843 miles per gallon, breaking a number of the team's 
personal records.
  At a time when prices are skyrocketing at the pump, America must look 
for ways to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and put our country on a 
permanent path toward energy independence. Increasing the fuel 
efficiency of automobiles is a critical step, and I commend the members 
of the Mater Dei Car Team for their ingenuity and dedication to this 
important goal. These students represent the future engineers and 
scientists who can help lead the way in addressing the energy 
challenges we face.

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