[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5006]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             GIRLS OF STEEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2012

  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Girls of 
Steel robotics team on winning the prestigious Engineering Inspiration 
Award as well as the Website Award at the Pittsburgh Regional ``For 
Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (F.I.R.S.T.)'' 
Robotics Competition on March 8 and 9. I also want to congratulate them 
for winning the Innovation in Control Award at the Queen City Regional 
F.I.R.S.T. competition in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 5 through 7.
  As the founder of the Congressional Robotics Caucus, I am a proud 
supporter of F.I.R.S.T. and the tremendously important purpose it 
serves in introducing young people to the fields of technology and 
engineering. Through its mentor-based programs, F.I.R.S.T. will inspire 
nearly 300,000 students this year while providing them with confidence, 
leadership, and communication skills. It is critical that we continue 
to encourage young people to get involved in these fields if our 
country is to remain competitive in the global economy in the future. 
The F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition instills a sense of pride in the 
individuals who participate in it and allows them to apply their 
natural creativity in the demanding and competitive field of robotics.
  The Engineering Inspiration award is given to the team that best 
advances appreciation and respect for engineering through recruitment 
and outreach within their community and is the second highest team 
award F.I.R.S.T. bestows. It also qualifies the Girls of Steel to 
compete in the National competition in St. Louis at the end of April. 
The Website Award is presented to the team that best demonstrates 
excellence in a student-designed, built, and managed F.I.R.S.T. team 
website. The Innovation in Control Award celebrates an innovative 
control system or application of control components to provide unique 
machine functions.
  The Girls of Steel beat over 40 other robotics teams in receiving the 
two awards in Pittsburgh, and they beat over 50 other robotics teams in 
receiving the Innovation in Control award in Cincinnati.
  I would like to mention each of these dedicated young women by name. 
They are Christina Ambrosino, Sonia Appasamy, Katie Ashwood, Jaden 
Barney, McKenna Barney, Tammy Bevilacqua, Elizabeth Bianchini, Claire 
Brunson, Dakota Calvert, Abby Ceraso, Rachel Clapper, Ananya Cleetus, 
Claudia Contreras, Kaylie Cullison, Maureen Deken, Laurel Donatelli, 
Mackenzie Ferris, Kiran Gaulee, Naoka Gunawardena, Grace Handler, 
Heather Harrington, Rosanne Harrison, Kathryn Hendrickson, Erin 
Higgins, Samantha Holland, Imani Horton, Natalie Janosik, Campbell 
Konrad, Elizabeth Kysel, Sylvie Lee, Shana Leshko, Murong Li, Serena 
Mani, Mansi Mann, Pragna Mannam, Elise Medeiros, Grace Mitro, Sruthi 
Muluk, Lindsay Myer, Remy Niman, Raina Oravec, Olivia Parks, Jennifer 
Rickens, Kaylyn Rocher, Alex Roth, Rachel Round, Chelsi Sayti, Katelin 
Shreve, Amrita Singh, Jessica Slain, Nancy Soliman, Lauren Spence, Lynn 
Urbina, Bryce Volk, Rebecca Volk, Molly Walsh, Giulia Watkins, and 
Melanie Young.
  Pittsburgh is proud of the Girls of Steel for their hard work and 
dedication to the fields of robotics and engineering and for inspiring 
others within their community to get involved in this important 
industry. I wish them the best of luck in St. Louis in April and 
congratulate them once again on their continued success in the 
F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition.

                          ____________________