[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 64 (Thursday, May 10, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO VIRGINIA A. PHILLIPS, 2001 ATHENA AWARD HONOREE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2001

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I take the floor today to honor Judge 
Virginia A. Phillips, the recipient of the 2001 ATHENA of the Inland 
Valleys Award, which recognizes Judge Phillips for her professional 
excellence, community service and mentoring of fellow women.
  The ATHENA Foundation Award Program originated in 1980 by Martha 
Mayhood Mertz, who realized that in the 75 years of presenting 
community awards, her Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, of 
Michigan, had only once honored a woman. This realization led her to 
establish ATHENA so that focus would be given to the incredible number 
of professional women found throughout our communities nationwide.
  In the 43rd congressional district Judge Virginia Phillips not only 
epitomizes all that the ATHENAs stand for but also all that we could 
possibly hope for in a role-model for the young women of today.
  Judge Phillips received her B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from the 
University of California, Riverside in 1979, and later obtained her 
J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of 
Law. Additionally, her professional and community activities include: 
Board of Directors member of the Federal Bar Association--Inland Empire 
Chapter; Chairperson of the City of Riverside Law Enforcement Policy 
Advisory Board; Board of Directors member with the Riverside Youth 
Center; member of the Riverside Human Relations Committee; and much, 
much more. Judge Phillips' life long commitment to the Inland Empire 
community is obvious and compelling.
  Presently, Judge Phillips serves as the first female district court 
judge from the Inland Empire appointed to the Central District of 
California, which encompasses over 18 million people, with more than 
three million people in the Eastern Division--the counties of Riverside 
and San Bernardino, California. And Riverside County, while being one 
of the fastest growing areas in the nation, has over 1.5 million people 
alone. In this position, Judge Phillips fills a critical need given the 
sheer number of cases that come before the Central District each month.
  Mr. Speaker, my district is fortunate to have a dynamic and dedicated 
community leader in Judge Phillips. She has given her time and talents 
providing motivation and inspiration to the young women with whom she 
comes into contact.

  Judge Virginia Phillips' outstanding work makes me proud to call her 
a community member and fellow American. I know that all of Riverside, 
including myself, is grateful for her contribution to the betterment of 
our community and salute her on May 10th with the 2001 ATHENA Award.
  I look forward to continuing to work with her and the many 
professional women of Riverside County for the good of our community. I 
would like to close with the ATHENA Foundation motto by Plato: ``What 
is honored in a country will be cultivated there.''

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