[Page H1256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE WINNERS OF THE HELEN RUFFIN READING BOWL COMPETITION

  (Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor schools 
from Georgia's First Congressional District--Lyman Hall Elementary, 
Midway Middle School, and Savannah Arts Academy--for winning the 
regional Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl competition in Valdosta.
  With their hard-fought victory, they now move on to compete in 
divisional competition in Statesboro on March 7. The competition 
started more than 30 years ago when Helen Ruffin, a librarian from 
Georgia, wanted to find a way to make reading more exciting for 
students at her school.
  The Reading Bowl gained traction, and now it is a statewide 
tournament. In the competition, participants from each school answer 
questions prepared by the committee for points. Teams of students that 
answer the most questions correctly about certain award-winning 
children's books win the competition.
  These three schools from the First Congressional District of Georgia 
beat over 40 teams to make it to the next level. I am proud we have 
this degree of passion for reading in Georgia, and I am thankful these 
schools are working hard to teach their students the value of reading.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate them on their accomplishments this 
year, and best of luck to them in Statesboro at divisional competition.

                          ____________________