[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6605]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING STUDENTS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 2010

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the achievements of several students in Northern Virginia. These 
students have participated and excelled in programs administered by 
their local Parent Teacher Associations and Parent Teacher Student 
Associations.
  Parent Teacher Associations, PTAs, and Parent Teacher Student 
Associations, PTSAs, serve a critical role in helping to provide the 
best possible educational environment for our students. The Northern 
Virginia District PTA consists of a region with more than 220 schools. 
Schools located throughout northern Virginia are consistently 
recognized as being among the very best schools in our country. I 
strongly believe one factor in the excellent education received by our 
students is the high level of involvement and encouragement provided by 
parents through the PTA and PTSAs.
  I am pleased to congratulate the following students on being 
recognized by the National PTA and Virginia PTA for their outstanding 
achievements:
  2010 District PTA Citizenship Essay Awards--High School Division: 
Trisha Hajela (10th Grade, Centreville High School), and Katherine 
DeFazio (12th Grade, James Madison High School).
  2010 District PTA Citizenship Essay Awards--Middle School Division: 
Bennett Casciano (7th Grade, South County Secondary School), and Cali 
Willcockson (8th Grade, Liberty Middle School).
  The 2010 PTA Reflections National PTA Nominees are:
  Dance Choreography: Primary Division--Claire de la Paz (2nd Grade, 
Herndon Elementary School PTA) for her dance performance titled ``Free 
Bird.''
  Literature: Middle/Junior Division--Eliza Malakoff, (7th Grade George 
Washington Middle School PTA) for her insightful essay titled ``No 
Beauty?''
  Music Composition: Intermediate Division--Kyle Gatesman, (4th Grade, 
Canterbury Woods Elementary School PTA) for his musical composition 
titled ``Reflections in Color: Variations on a Theme.''
  Visual Art: Primary Division--Hannah Cadenazzi, (1st Grade, Great 
Falls Elementary School PTA) for her interpretative painting titled 
``Family.''
  Visual Art: Intermediate Division--Brittney Fogg, (5th Grade, Willow 
Springs Elementary School PTA) for her authentic drawing titled 
``Beauty is worth looking for.''
  Visual Art: Middle/Junior Division--Jiwhae Choi, (8th Grade, Rachel 
Carson Middle School) for the multifaceted vision of ''Beauty is never 
giving up.''
  2009 National PTA Award of Excellence: William Park, (12th Grade, 
Langley High School) who was recognized at an awards reception at the 
Department of Energy on January 16.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me today to recognize 
the outstanding achievements of these students. I also ask that we 
recognize the Northern Virginia District PTA, in partnership with the 
Virginia PTA, as they work diligently to develop the diversity of 
talents and skills of students attending schools throughout Northern 
Virginia. It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the achievements of 
these students and the Parent Teacher Associations that support them.

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