[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 115 (Thursday, September 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO MR. ROBERT L. BRANDT ON HIS RETIREMENT AS 
             SUPERINTENDENT FROM THE VANTAGE CAREER CENTER

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                          HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2001

  Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise today to recognize a 
great man who has touched many young lives, Mr. Robert L. Brandt. Mr. 
Brandt has spent the last 25 years as superintendent of the Vantage 
Career Center in Van Wert, Ohio. This month, he is stepping down to 
take a less active role for the remainder of the year when he will 
officially retire.
  In his 25 years, Mr. Brandt has turned the Vantage Career Center into 
one of the shining stars in the State of Ohio. In 1974, he was asked to 
join the effort to create a vocational school for Van Wert. He was 
responsible for choosing the site and developing a building financial 
plan to have the school open in two years. Right on schedule, the doors 
of the Vantage Vocational School, as it was originally known, opened in 
1976 serving only four school districts. Today, more than eleven school 
districts send their students to the Vantage Vocational School. In 
addition, each year more than 5,000 dollars adults gain valuable work 
and career skills through Vantage's Adult Education Program.
  Mr. Brandt has never taken his eye off what was truly important, the 
students. In a recent newspaper article he was quoted as saying, ``My 
biggest joy in all of this is seeing the number of students who have 
attended Vantage who have made real successes of themselves--especially 
those who hadn't done very well in school before coming here.''
  Though Mr. Brandt officially stepped down as superintendent on July 
1, 2001, he has remains at Vantage as Special Projects Coordinator 
ensuring a smooth transition for the new superintendent.
  Mr. Speaker, year after year professionals such as Mr. Brandt 
dedicate their lives to the future of America. There is no more 
important or challenging job than that of our nation's educators. At 
this time, I ask my colleagues of the 107th Congress to join me in 
saluting Mr. Brandt and all that he has done for the youth of Ohio.

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