[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8216]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO TINE VALENCIC

 Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, today I wish recognize the 
achievements of Tine Valencic, a 13-year-old seventh grade student at 
Colleyville Middle School in Colleyville, TX. Tine recently competed in 
and won the 2011 National Geographic Bee, held here in Washington, DC. 
Each year thousands of schools and millions of students in the United 
States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials 
prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to 
encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark 
student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about 
geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are 
eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic 
knowledge.
  Out of a field of 54 contestants, one from each of the 50 States and 
Territories, Tine won the competition and was the only contestant to 
correctly answer every question in the final round. In recognition of 
his success, National Geographic will award Tine a college scholarship 
worth $25,000, a lifetime membership in the National Geographic 
Society, and a trip to the Galapagos Islands with his parents.
  The winning question was: ``Which South American country is home to 
the volcano, Tungurahua?'' The answer, ``Ecuador,'' was given correctly 
by Tine after the runner-up contestant failed to match Tine for a 
fourth question in a row. Tine is the second Texan to be named national 
champion in the competition's 23-year history.
  Young Texans, like Tine Valencic, prove that persistence and a thirst 
for knowledge are the keys to unlocking opportunities for success. I 
congratulate Tine on this important accomplishment and look forward to 
seeing his continued achievements.

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