[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E850-E851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING PICKENS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN PICKENS, SOUTH CAROLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDSEY O. GRAHAM

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2000

  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Pickens Middle School in 
Pickens, South Carolina. This school has been recently named a 1999-
2000 school year ``Blue Ribbon School'' by Secretary of Education, 
Richard Riley.
  Since its inception in 1982, more than 3,800 of the most successful 
and challenging schools in the country have been honored by inclusion 
in the Blue Ribbons Schools Program. The schools chosen for this 
program fulfill stringent, research-based criteria for overall academic 
excellence. To be eligible to be a Blue Ribbon School, schools are 
judged in all areas of academics, instruction, professional 
development, and school curriculum. In addition, honored schools 
exhibit exceptional levels of community and parental involvement, high 
student achievement levels and rigorous safety and discipline programs 
within their schools.
  Pickens Middle School was one of only four schools in South Carolina 
honored with this prestigious award this year. In fact, they were one 
of an elite 198 schools nationwide chosen for this honor for the 1999-
2000 school year.
  Pickens Middle School is an outstanding example of effective public 
school and is well deserving of this national award. Their parents, 
students, teachers, administrators, and school officials should all be 
proud for achieving this special honor. This school is a strong example 
of excellence in academics in the 3rd District of South Carolina and 
should serve as a model for schools across the country. I am proud to 
have this blue ribbon school in my district of South Carolina.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my fellow colleagues will join me in 
congratulating Pickens Middle schools for their commitment to 
educational excellence.

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