[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF RICHARD J. ERNST

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. DAVIS at Virginia. Mr. Speaker, my colleague Mr. Wolf, and I rise 
today to pay tribute to Dr. Richard J. Ernst on the occasion of his 
retirement as president of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). 
For thirty years, he has made outstanding contributions to Virginia's 
educational system and to the community.
  Dick Ernst joined NOVA in 1968, when it was a three-year-old campus 
of five thousand students housed in a warehouse. Through his tireless 
efforts and dedication, NOVA has grown and developed into the second-
largest multi-campus community college in the world. The NOVA system 
now includes five campuses serving more than sixty thousand credit 
students and three hundred thousand participants in non-credit 
programs. The development of a sixth campus, the Medical Education 
campus, is in the preconstruction planning stage. This incredible 
growth is due to Dick's endless vision and boundless energy that has 
been the hallmark of his leadership.
  Dick Ernst can take pride in the fact that it was his leadership that 
developed NOVA to one of the best community colleges in the nation. 
Today it offers training, classes and opportunities to thousands of 
Northern Virginians from various racial, ethnic and economic 
backgrounds that, without Dick's efforts, they would not have.
  Throughout his educational career, Dick has been involved in numerous 
community organizations. In 1979-80, Dick served as Interim Chancellor 
of the Virginia Community College System in addition to his duties as 
president of NOVA. His many activities include membership in the 
Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Virginia Roundtable, 
the Advisory Council of the Northern Virginia Minority Business and 
Professional Association, the Washington Dulles Task Force Advisory 
Council, and the Fairfax Committee of 100, and serving on the Board of 
Directors of the Fairfax Unit of the American Cancer Society, the 
American Automobile Association Potomac Advisory Board, and the 
Northern Virginia Community Foundation.
  The many honors and awards Dick Ernst has received include CEO of the 
Year by the Association of Community College Trustees, Blue Chip 
Community College Leader by the University of Texas National Survey, 
and Man of the Year by the National Council on Community Services and 
Continuing Education.
  He received his baccalaureate degree in mathematics and science and 
his master's degree in administration from the University of Florida, 
and his doctoral degree from Florida State University. Dick and his 
wife Betty, a retired Fairfax County Public Schools educator, have seen 
their three children graduate form local area high schools and Virginia 
colleges and universities.
  Mr. Speaker, we know our colleagues join us in saluting Dr. Richard 
J. Ernst, whose educational and civic contributions to the community 
have helped improve the quality of life for all Northern Virginians.

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