[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 103 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO OPHELIA MEJIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2000

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the splendid 
efforts and notable accomplishments of an extraordinary woman in the 
1st Congressional District of Colorado. It is both fitting and proper 
that we recognize this community leader for her exceptional record of 
civic leadership and invaluable service. It is to commend this 
outstanding citizen that I rise to honor Ophelia Mejia.
  Ophelia Mejia has devoted a lifetime to improving the condition of 
children and families in the Denver area. Ophelia was born to parents 
who emigrated from Mexico and following her father's death at an early 
age, she graduated from Greeley High School and was employed at the 
Greeley Tribune while attending the University of Northern Colorado on 
a scholarship. There, she met her husband and subsequently, they had 
thirteen children.
  Ms. Mejia began her distinguished career in early childhood care and 
development in the Park Hill area where she opened a family childcare 
home. She then taught preschool, became a director, and began to teach 
at the Community College of Aurora where she ultimately became 
department chair for the Early Childhood Education Department. In that 
capacity, she was able to access many grants in order that students who 
had difficulty paying tuition could still attend classes. She is now a 
specialist with the Community Development Institute, a Head Start 
Quality Improvement Center for Region VIII, where she provides training 
and technical assistance to sixteen Head Start Programs.
  Ophelia has an impressive history of civic leadership. She is 
president of the Colorado Child Care Workforce, a board member of the 
Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children, and a member 
of the Colorado Child Care Commission. She also serves on the 
Professional Development and Distance Learning Committees of the 
Colorado Early Childhood Summit. She conducts bilingual and monolingual 
Spanish assessments of candidates for the Colorado Child Care 
Development Associate credential and has been on the advisory boards 
for the early childhood departments of Metropolitan State College, 
Emily Griffith Opportunity School, First Start, Including Children with 
Disabilities, and Healthy Start Initiatives. Additionally, she has been 
a member of the Colorado Child Care Coalition, the early Childhood 
Educators' Network, the Colorado Community College Faculty Coalition 
and the Latin Council of Aurora.
  It comes as no surprise that Ophelia Mejia's devotion and service to 
our community has been honored and she received the first Outstanding 
Leaders Award from the Denver Metro Association for the Education of 
Young Children.
  Please join me in commending Ophelia Mejia. It is the strong 
leadership that she exhibits on a daily basis that continually enhances 
our lives and builds a better future for all Americans. Her life serves 
as an example to which we should all aspire.

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