[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1089-E1090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

AMERICAN DREAM CHALLENGE AWARDS

______

HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

of massachusetts

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, June 3, 1997

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Irving A. Fradkin and the Committee of
the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Fall River, MA, have initiated
and nurtured an educational movement that has benefited children not
only in my own Third Congressional District of Massachusetts, but
throughout the country. By working with individuals and businesses in a
community, scholarships are presented to children that will motivate
and enable them to go to college. These children, who are students in
elementary school, promise to adhere to good behavior and high
scholarship. They take a pledge to do their best in school and to take
advantage of the opportunities of a good education. They promise to
respect their classmates and teachers and to learn about and appreciate
different religious and ethnic backgrounds. They pledge to stay away
from drugs, violence, and weapons of any kind. They volunteer to
perform service in their communities and to be caring and responsible
young citizens. Certainly these are the actions and values we would
like to instill in our children.
I would like to enter into the Record letters of commendation from
President Clinton and Secretaries Riley and Shalala praising the
American Dream Challenge Scholarship Program. I am also pleased to
include essays from elementary school children who live in the southern
part of my congressional district and who are participants in this
program. They have written about how education has shaped their dreams
of the future and I believe their words should inspire as all.

The White House,

Washington, January 3, 1996.
Dr. Irving Fradkin,
American Dream Challenges, Citizens Scholarship Foundation of
America, Fall River, MA
I am delighted to commend the participants and supporters
of the American Dream Challenge scholarship program.
Education is one of the most effective tools that
individuals can use to create a brighter tomorrow for
themselves and for our nation. By studying hard and working
to improve their school communities, young Americans can look
forward to the time when their generation will help to lead
this country.
Initiatives like the American Dream Challenge emphasize the
importance of a good education, encouraging young people to
invest in their future by preparing for college and exciting
career opportunities. I commend the program's supporters for
your dedication to helping young people fulfill their dreams,
and I wish the scholarship recipients every happiness and
success.
Bill Clinton.

____
U.S. Department of Education,

Washington, DC, May 18, 1997.
To the Participants in the American Dream Challenge, Fall
River, MA.
It is a pleasure to greet the students participating in the
Fall River American Dream Challenge. I am grateful for this
opportunity to emphasize to you how important it is that you
meet the challenge by staying in school and striving for
excellence.
As President Clinton has said, ``The fight for education is
the fight for the American Dream.'' Through your academic
efforts, you are working toward realizing that dream for
yourselves. As I hope you have discovered, although you may
face many obstacles in your achievement of that dream, you
may overcome those obstacles through hard work and
dedication.
As our world becomes more complicated and our economy more
competitive, education becomes more and more important. I
commend you for resolving to stay in school, stay out of
trouble and work hard to excel academically. However,
education today must not end with high school graduation. The
constantly changing demands of new technologies and of the
world economy mean that for today's citizens education must
be a lifelong endeavor. I hope that you will use your
scholarships to continue your studies after your graduate.
America is counting on each of you to make a special
contribution to our nation. By being here today, you have
taken an important step toward making this contribution. I
commend you for setting your sights high and wish you all the
best as you strive to reach the goals you have set for
yourselves.
Richard W. Riley.

____
The Secretary of Health and

Human Services,

Washington, DC, April 3, 1996.
Dr. Irving Fradkin,
American Dream Challenge,
Fall River, MA.
Dear Dr. Fradkin: I appreciated receiving information about
the American Dream Challenge Program. As you know, the
education of our youth is of great concern to me, especially
as we look at new ways to break the cycle of poverty and give
our children a strong foundation for the future.
I commend the efforts of your program to motivate and
inspire our youth and provide them the opportunity to
participate in higher education. Also, I commend the students
who participate in the program. Their commitment to
excellence and their achievements in this program surely will
inspire other young people.
The Fall River Chapter of the Citizens Scholarship
Foundation has a long-standing track record of helping young
people finance their education. Initiatives like the American
Dream Challenge program reflect the commitment of the
organizers to education, and promoting access and excellence
in education.
My best wishes for your continued success.
Sincerely,
Donna E. Shalala.

[[Page E1090]]

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[From Fowler Elementary School; Feb. 14, 1997]

What My Future Will Be Like

(By Alicia Fernandes)

In the future I would like to become a Pediatrician. I
would like to do that because I enjoy working with children.
When I get older I am going to try my best to get through
high school successfully. When I graduate I would like to go
to Harvard or Yale. I was even considering going to a
university in Florida. When I go to college I am going to
become a Pediatrician.
I am going to be smart. I am going to keep my head clear. I
will not smoke, drink, or do drugs. Also, I will not ruin my
education by having children while I am still in high school.
I will have a good education, good job, before I have
children. I will have children when I have a good job, a good
education, when I am settled down and ready to support myself
plus a child.
Until then I'm going to go to school to get a good
education and have a good life. I am not going to make the
mistakes some people make. I don't want to throw my life
away, I want to be able to get up everyday to go to high
school without having to call a baby sitter. I want to have a
good educational life and I will because I am setting my mind
to it. While I am writing this I am thinking about my future,
me and all my friends standing on a stage in our caps and
gowns while the principal of our school gives a speech and
then he says it ``The Class of 2993'' then there is a big
round of applause and we receive our diplomas and a few
months later I'm packing my bags for college.
As I think to myself I did it! I am so proud!

____
How I Can Use My Education To Make A Better America

(By Andrea M. Dias, 4th grade, Doriare School)

The people today that are lawyers, teachers, sales people,
doctor, and other jobs. The only way them people achieved
there goals is because they went threw elementary school,
middle school, high school and collage. They worked hard and
stuff and got a great education. Also an education doesn't
only make you achieve your goals and make you smart but also
makes you a better and kind person. There are also people
today who dropped out of school and did get an education and
now those people regret and think about what a bad desision
they made, thats why some of them went back to school and
tried to get an education. So if your still a kid like me and
you have a goal dream. One of the ways you'll get it is if
you have an education. So I'll tell you right now! Believe in
your dream, go for it! If your not that good at school and
you want to get a good education then just keep on trying and
trying until you get better and better. Say your goal was to
be a teacher and you achieved it. You won't only get an
education you'll be helping someone else get a education and
achieved there goals and you'll be proud of your self for
what you have done. Just remember the people who achieved
there goals they have a education. Don't give up. I know you
can get an education. Because if I can try you can try too.
Go and achieve your goal!!!

____
What I Want to be When I Grow Up.

(By Meghan Bissonnette, 6th Grade, Healy School)

Today I'm young, a few more tomorrows and I will be going
off to college. I must start thinking of what I want to do
with my life. Many other children may not care, but I do, I
think this is important. If I don't start now, who knows
where I could be 10 years from now.
After I finish college, I want to join the World Peace
Conference. That is my life long dream. President William
Clinton has inspired me the most. If I am chosen to join the
World Peace Conference, I shall help the world stop fighting,
and learn to help one another.
Also, I have a back up plan. If I am not elected to the
World Peace Conference, I'll become a veterinarian; so if I
can't help out people, I'll help out animals. This way I
shall be happy. I'll always try my best. Nothing will stop
me. I'll never do drugs, smoke, or do anything that will harm
my body. This way I will be safe from harm.
If I ever inherit money, I'll make sure to donate it all to
poor, homeless people, sick animals, and charity, this way
the money will not go to waste. I'll never give up. I'll be
strong and carry on. My dream for peace, fairness and
equality will never die, neither shall my hope, or spirit.

____
How Education Can Help Me Make a Difference

(By Natalie Moore, Grade 6, Atlantis Charter School, Fall River, MA)

I'm a child of the future generation of adults and if I
don't get an education I can't help change the world and the
bad things in it.
I want to be like Martin Luther King, Jr. or Chico Mendes
and make a difference; not necessarily the same way as them,
but in my own way. I want to be a judge when I get older. I
want to take the people selling drugs, and murderers, off the
street. I want to stop the violence and abuse in and outside
of homes. But if I don't have an education this won't happen,
because it takes a lot of studying, hard work--and I'll have
to go to school.
So many children are so scared of what's going to happen to
them when they go home from school, or who they are going to
fight, that they don't pay attention in school. And that's
sad because if they grow up with abuse and violence then that
will be what their children grow up with and this world won't
change. I want that to be something that will change, so I am
going to go to school and try to influence as many other
people to go to school. And when I get older I WILL make the
biggest difference I can.

____________________