Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marielle Link for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Marielle has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Marielle, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Marielle's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Oberon Middle School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Marielle Link on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Angelina Chernenko for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Angelina has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Angelina, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Angelina's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Three Creeks K-8 School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Angelina Chernenko on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marlon Pineda Piedrahita for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Marlon has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Marlon, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Marlon's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr./Sr. High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Marlon Pineda Piedrahita on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Angelo Field for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Angelo has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Angelo, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them

for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Angelo's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr./Sr. High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Angelo Field on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mickey Wilson of Golden, Colorado, for receiving a Carnegie Medal after saving his friend's life in a daring act of heroism.

In January 2017, Mr. Wilson, a professional slackliner, was skiing in Dillon, Colorado, when a friend and fellow skier got caught leaving a ski lift. The skier was left dangling unconscious from the lift, out of reach from help. Mr. Wilson realized the gravity of the situation and selflessly sprung into action. Despite danger warnings, he climbed the chairlift pole and traversed 30 feet along the lift's two-inch cable to reach the chair. He then swung down onto the chair and, after catching a knife thrown by a rescue crew member, cut his friend free. The skier fully recovered with only a broken rib, while Mr. Wilson was uninjured. Mr. Wilson's slacklining experience proved life-saving that day.

The Carnegie Medal is given to people who risk their own safety in an attempt to save the lives of others. There is no doubt that Mr. Wilson is incredibly deserving of this award and it is an honor to congratulate him on this life-saving act of bravery.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aaron Cadayong of Littleton, Colorado for receiving the United States Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. As part of this prestigious honor, Aaron traveled to the Philippines to study abroad.

U.S. Study Abroad programs are an important component of the federal government's efforts to ensure Americans of all backgrounds have the opportunity to gain global experiences and work across our borders to help address our world's greatest challenges. The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship provides exceptional undergraduate students with the opportunity to expand their cultural proficiencies, study critical need languages, and conduct STEM research. The scholarship has empowered over 41,000 individuals with financial need to engage in people-to- people diplomacy and prepare for distinguished careers in public service.

I commend Aaron for pursuing an exemplary international education and representing America abroad as a citizen ambassador. This scholarship rightly recognizes a commitment to academic excellence. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Aaron's many accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aisha Ozaslan of Golden, Colorado for receiving the United States Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. As part of this prestigious honor, Aisha traveled to South Korea to study abroad.

U.S. Study Abroad programs are an important component of the federal government's efforts to ensure Americans of all backgrounds have the opportunity to gain global experiences and work across our borders to help address our world's greatest challenges. The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship provides exceptional undergraduate students with the opportunity to expand their cultural proficiencies,

study critical need languages, and conduct STEM research. The scholarship has empowered over 41,000 individuals with financial need to engage in people-to-people diplomacy and prepare for distinguished careers in public service.

I commend Aisha for pursuing an exemplary international education and representing America abroad as a citizen ambassador. This scholarship rightly recognizes a commitment to academic excellence. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Aisha's many accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alexia Candelaria for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Alexia has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Alexia, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Alexia's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Wheat Ridge High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Alexia Candelaria on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Curtis Hayes for his service in the U.S. Air Force. Colonel Hayes served as a dentist and maxillofacial surgeon in the Air Force for over 20 years. Among his many accomplishments, Colonel Hayes led a four-member dental team to provide care for underprivileged children in Africa. Colonel Hayes earned numerous awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air and Space Achievement Medal, and the 2013 USAFE Dentist of the Year award.

Colonel Hayes has also extended his impact to academia and literature. He has shared his expertise by contributing to peer- reviewed journals and recently wrote a section on digital dentistry in the best-selling book ``Million Dollar Smile.''

It is my honor to congratulate Colonel Hayes on his military retirement and to thank him for his service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hayden Stone of Woodland Park, Colorado for receiving the United States Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. As part of this prestigious honor, Hayden traveled to Greece, Italy, Austria, and Germany to study abroad.

U.S. Study Abroad programs are an important component of the federal government's efforts to ensure Americans of all backgrounds have the opportunity to gain global experiences and work across our borders to help address our world's greatest challenges. The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship provides exceptional undergraduate students with the opportunity to expand their cultural proficiencies, study critical need languages, and conduct STEM research. The scholarship has empowered over 41,000 individuals with financial need to engage in people-to- people diplomacy and prepare for distinguished careers in public service.

I commend Hayden for pursuing an exemplary international education and representing America abroad as a citizen ambassador. This scholarship rightly recognizes a commitment to academic excellence. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Hayden's many accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Iris Barkett of Canon City, Colorado for receiving the United States Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. As part of this prestigious honor, Iris traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia to study abroad.

U.S. Study Abroad programs are an important component of the federal government's efforts to ensure Americans of all backgrounds have the opportunity to gain global experiences and work across our borders to help address our world's greatest challenges. The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship provides exceptional undergraduate students with the opportunity to expand their cultural proficiencies, study critical need languages, and conduct STEM research. The scholarship has empowered over 41,000 individuals with financial need to engage in people-to- people diplomacy and prepare for distinguished careers in public service.

I commend Iris for pursuing an exemplary international education and representing America abroad as a citizen ambassador. This scholarship rightly recognizes a commitment to academic excellence. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Iris' many accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Riley Flynn for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Riley has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Riley, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Riley's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Three Creeks K-8 School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Riley Flynn on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joshua Banales for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Joshua has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Joshua, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Joshua's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr./Sr. High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Joshua Banales on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Karlie Candelaria for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Karlie has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Karlie, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skilis and a work ethic that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Karlie's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Wheat Ridge High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Karlie Candelaria on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Noah Trask for earning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth Award.

Noah has achieved great things, all while overcoming adversity and challenges along the way. Students like Noah, who strive to make the most of their education, develop crucial skills and a work ethic that will guide them

for the rest of their lives. This award is a testament to Noah's hard work, determination, and perseverance at Jefferson Jr./Sr. High School and is clearly just the beginning of a bright and promising future.

It is my honor to congratulate Noah Trask on achieving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award.