[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE DR. FREDERICA WILSON, ROLE MODEL OF 
                               EXCELLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 10, 1999

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this 
opportunity to pay tribute to one of south Florida's distinguished 
daughters, the Honorable Dr. Frederica Wilson, a champion of poor and 
minority students. After an extended period of distinguished community 
service in Miami, Dr. Wilson was elected recently to the Florida House 
of Representatives in Tallahassee.
  Prior to her election to the state legislature, Dr. Wilson was a 
member of the Miami-Dade County School Board and was principal of 
Skyway Elementary School for twelve years. Dr. Wilson earned her 
Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Fisk University, and her 
M.A. degree in Supervision and Administration from the University of 
Miami. Dr. Wilson received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from 
Miami's Florida Memorial College.
  Dr. Wilson is the founder of the 500 Role Models of Excellence 
Project, providing role models, training, and workshops for minority 
boys in the county's public school system. Dr. Wilson has introduced 
many initiatives to the Miami-Dade County School Board, including the 
annual ``Keep Me Safe'' march and vigil, when time is allocated for 
students and the community to honor children lost due to unsafe 
environments.
  Dr. Wilson's inventiveness knows no bounds when fostering safety for 
Florida's students. One of the initiatives which she introduced has 
been ``Drug and Alcohol Awareness Fridays.'' And every Friday is ``Say 
No to Drugs'' Day in the public schools of Miami-Dade County.
  In 1997, the 500 Role Models Project was cited by President Clinton 
and General Colin Powell as a leading volunteer teaching model for the 
nation at the President's Summit for America's Future in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania.
  With other Florida leaders, such as Governor Jeb Bush, Dr. Wilson 
also recently participated in the sixty annual 500 Role Models of 
Excellence Project's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Scholarship 
Breakfast on Miami Beach in January, 1999.
  While in our nation's capital to attend a White House function with 
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dr. Wilson had the opportunity also 
to visit the Congress on February 3. I look forward to working with Dr. 
Wilson towards resolving the challenges facing our home state. Miami 
indeed is fortunate to have such a capable and devoted public servant 
among the ranks of its community leaders.

                          ____________________