FLOOR STATEMENT: Recognizing Hopkins Junior High School Science Team of Fremont

Monday, 07 May 2012 08:26

May 7, 2012
For the Congressional Record
Statement of Congressman Pete Stark
 

Statement in Recognition of Hopkins Junior High

MR. STARK: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable achievement of the Hopkins Junior High School Science Team of Fremont, California for winning the National Science Bowl.  This is the second time in four years that Hopkins Junior High School has won the National Science Bowl, sponsored by the Department of Energy.

Hopkins Junior High owes their success to team members Karthik Bharathala, Dhruv Muley, Catherine Zeng, Brian Tseng, Mark Choi and their teacher Paul Ricks, who practiced tirelessly for this year’s competition.  Clearly, that practice certainly paid off.

In the National Science Bowl, judged by United States Energy Secretary Steven Chu, five member teams compete against each other in a fast paced Jeopardy style format where teams try to be the first to correctly answer an oral question posed about science or math.  Nearly 14,000 students participated in regional tournaments and more than 100 teams competed in the Nationals.

This accomplishment is evidence of the quality of Fremont’s public schools.  The dedication of students, teachers and parents has led to this great success, and I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating them.  We are incredibly proud of the Hopkins Junior High Science Team and their coach for this outstanding achievement.