[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE PROGRAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
innovative educational program in my south Florida community called the 
Fairchild Challenge.
  As a nonprofit founded in 2002, this no-cost, environment-focused 
annual competition based at the world-renowned Fairchild Tropical 
Botanic Garden, located in my district, invites students from around 
the world to participate from a young age as active and thoughtful 
members of society.
  The Fairchild Challenge focuses attention on conservation of the 
environment, while introducing students to the importance of STEM: 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  In the 2014-2015 school year, over 153,000 participants were involved 
in the program. High-performing schools are eligible for cash prizes, 
while participating students may earn college scholarships.
  Through innovative programs like the Fairchild Challenge, students 
are sure to be conscious of the benefits of conserving our environment 
and may more readily engage in the STEM fields that will better prepare 
them for the future.
  Congratulations to all the student participants of the Fairchild 
Challenge. Hats off especially to the board members, staff, and the 
many volunteers of the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and most 
especially to Mr. and Mrs. Greer, the heart and soul of these beautiful 
botanical gardens.

                          ____________________