[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT TRIBUTE TO FRANK HIDALGO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 1999

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to proudly bring 
tribute to a fellow Arizonan and someone I am proud to call my friend, 
Mr. Frank Hidalgo. I am calling your attention to Frank's 
accomplishments in light of an award he recently received from Chicanos 
Por La Causa, Inc., (CPLC), a well-respected nonprofit organization in 
Arizona that has long advocated for the Latino community. Frank was 
recently presented with CPLC's Lifetime Achievement Award for his 
lifelong dedication to promoting higher education in the Hispanic and 
Chicano community.
  The 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award was established to honor an 
extraordinary individual who has dedicated his/her life to serving the 
Latino community. This award not only recognizes the personal and 
professional accomplishments of the individual, but also their 
altruistic contributions to the advancement of the Hispanic and Chicano 
community.
  Frank, a native Arizonan, began his career as a junior high school 
teacher, and later served as the Director of the Phoenix Job Corps. In 
1984, Frank was hired by Arizona State University (ASU) to serve as 
Director of Community Relations. Under his direction, Frank has been 
responsible for coordinating the ASU Hispanic Convocation, an 
inspirational graduation ceremony for Hispanics. Each year an estimated 
300 graduates take part in each Spring and Fall ceremony and over 3,000 
proud family members and friends are in attendance. This year marked 
the 16th anniversary of the ASU Hispanic Convocation. It has become one 
of the Valley's most significant and motivating ceremonies involving 
Latinos, recognizing both individual scholastic achievement and the 
collective progress of the Latino community in higher education. The 
television broadcast of the ceremony on the local Univision and PBS 
stations has become a traditional viewing event for Latino families 
hoping to encourage young people to pursue higher education.
  Frank also administers the ASU Cesar E. Chavez Leadership Institute. 
This program brings Arizona Hispanic high school students to the ASU 
campus for a week of intensive leadership training by respected 
community and university leaders. The program teaches valuable 
leadership skills that students can use to improve their communities, 
as well as gives them the opportunity to learn about the importance of 
higher education. Since 1995, more than 200 students have participated 
in this exceptional leadership program.
  In addition to the tremendous work Frank does for youth, he serves on 
a number of boards and committees such as the Rio Salado Committee, 
CPLC Board of Directors, the City of Phoenix Police Department Advisory 
Board Committee, the KPNX Channel 12 Minority Advisory Committee, the 
National Community for Latino Leadership and the Boy Scouts of America.
  Mr. Speaker, Frank Hidalgo is an exemplary leader and a profoundly 
committed individual who is a true role model for the nation. He has 
dedicated more than forty years to the advancement of higher education 
for Hispanic youth. I sincerely appreciate this opportunity to honor 
Frank Hidalgo and his four decades of contributions to Arizona.

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