[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6745]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING RESACA MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FILEMON VELA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2014

  Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the winners of 
the 2013-2014 Verizon Innovative App Challenge, team ``Hello Navi'' 
from Resaca Middle School in Los Fresnos, Texas. I commend the team for 
their hard work and dedication to the competition. These students 
exemplify the ingenuity and creativity found amongst South Texas 
students.
  The Verizon Innovative App Challenge encourages middle school and 
high school students to use knowledge of science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects to develop an original 
mobile app concept to address a need in their school or community.
  Los Fresnos students Cassandra Baquero, Grecia Cano, Caitlyn 
Gonzalez, Kayleen Gonzalez, Janessa Leija, Jacqueline Garcia Torres, 
along with their faculty advisor Maggie Bolado, pioneered an app to 
help the blind navigate any building, including Resaca Middle School.
  Their exemplary leadership and creativity encourages other students 
to improve our world with technological developments. Projects such as 
this that increase student interest and knowledge in STEM subjects are 
extremely important to our region and our country given the high demand 
for STEM college graduates.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize these outstanding students for 
winning the 2013-2014 Verizon Innovative App Challenge and look forward 
to their future accomplishments.

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