[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9441-9442]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRATULATING KENTUCKY'S NATIONAL HISTORY DAY WINNERS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a group of 
Kentucky's brightest students who, by winning a number of prestigious 
awards for studying history, have proven themselves to be the leaders 
of the future. I am referring to the Kentucky winners of the National 
History Day 2012 contest, which was recently held at nearby College 
Park, MD, June 10 to 14.
  The contingent of students from Kentucky that made the trip was 
selected by the Kentucky Junior Historical Society, which held a 
statewide history contest in Frankfort, the State capital, last April. 
At that event, 68 Kentucky students qualified for the national finals.
  In all, 62 Kentucky students from the 6th through 12th grades made 
the trip to our Nation's capital region, accompanied by about 40 family 
members and teachers. I was very pleased to have a chance to visit with 
them during their trip.
  The group faced stiff competition. At National History Day 2012, 
there were 2,800 students competing, representing all 50 States and 
four international schools. Six Kentucky students stood out from their 
peers and garnered nationwide recognition for their history projects. 
Those students are:
  Joanna Slusarewicz, of Winburn Middle School and Fayette County, 
winner of the Salute to Freedom Award and third place, individual 
documentary, junior division. Her entry was titled ``Respectfully 
Submitted, Dorothea Dix.''
  Neha Kadambi and Jamie Smith, of Winburn Middle School and Fayette 
County, winners of the Leadership in History Award for group exhibit, 
junior

[[Page 9442]]

division. Their entry was titled ``The Fight Without a War: India's 
Revolutionary Road to Independence.''
  Meenakshi Singhal and Daryn Smith, of Winburn Middle School and 
Fayette County, winners of Best of State: Junior Division. Their entry 
was titled ``Charles Darwin: What Do You Mean Survival of the 
Fittest?''
  Emma Roach-Barrette, of Menifee County High School and Menifee 
County, winner of Best of State: Senior Division and individual 
documentary, senior division finalist. Her entry was titled ``Dead Men 
Do Tell Tales.''
  Every student from Kentucky who made this trip can be immensely proud 
of his or her accomplishments, and I hope they will continue to engage 
in the study of history for the remainder of their time in school and 
beyond. History plays such a large role in the events of today. We 
continue to be influenced by historic decisions made in this very 
Chamber.
  I also appreciate these students' teachers for helping to foster 
their love of history, specifically, Theresa Buczek and Michelle Cason 
of Winburn Middle School and Debra Craver of Menifee County High 
School. And I want to thank the Kentucky Junior Historical Society and 
its parent body, the Kentucky Historical Society, for sponsoring this 
competition and making the trip possible for these students. 
Established in 1836, the Kentucky Historical Society is committed to 
helping Kentuckians understand, cherish, and share history.
  I know my U.S. Senate colleagues join me in recognizing the 
accomplishments of Kentucky's winners of the National History Day 2012 
contest and of every Kentucky student who competed. We wish them well 
in their future studies and are proud they represent the Bluegrass 
State.

                          ____________________