[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1613]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING ODALMY MOLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 11, 2011

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to 
congratulate a young student from South Florida, who has achieved 
national recognition by excelling in the classroom and in her 
community. Odalmy Molina, from Cuban descent and a student at Hialeah 
High School, received the Youth Award from the Hispanic Heritage 
Foundation, which recognizes the most impressive Latino High School 
seniors.
  Ms. Molina's family history is a sadly familiar story to many of us, 
that of losing a loved one to cancer. I too, have experienced the same 
loss, but know that family suffering can strengthen our passion to 
succeed and become better individuals. Ms. Molina's deep desire to one-
day find a cure for cancer is fueled by her passion to replace the hurt 
and suffering of those affected by cancer with hope and solace. Her 
desire has led to a constant quest for knowledge, by either assisting 
scientists in performing lab work at the Miami project to Cure 
Paralysis; co-publishing original research presented during the Annual 
Neuroscience Research Day; or serving as the youth co-chair for the 
American Cancer Society. These extraordinary accomplishments at such a 
young age are an inspiring example to all of us.
  The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is a national non-profit that 
inspires, identifies, prepares and positions Latino leaders for 
classroom, community and workforce. After receiving 10,000 applications 
annually, HHF honors more than 150 students at ceremonies with partner 
universities in ten regions across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I heartily applaud Ms. Molina for her accomplishments, 
for she is a fine example of the best and brightest in South Florida. 
She has demonstrated a level of commitment that deserves our sincere 
admiration and respect. I am confident that she will continue to 
accomplish great things for our community in South Florida and our 
country.

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