[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 163 (Thursday, November 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO PHYLLIS SMOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR.

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2001

  Mr. EHRLICH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate Ms. Phyllis Smock on her retirement from the University 
System of Maryland after more than 32 years of dedicated service.
  A friend of the State of Maryland, Phyllis Smock, University of 
Maryland University College's director of alumni relations, will retire 
on December 1, 2001. Ms. Smock has played a significant role in the 
growth of University of Maryland University College.
  University of Maryland University College, or UMUC, is one of 11 
accredited degree-granting institutions in the University System. For 
50 years, the University has fulfilled its principal mission: to serve 
adult, part-time students through high-quality educational 
opportunities. In 1949, of the U.S. colleges and universities invited 
to provide courses to the men and women in the military stationed 
overseas, only UMUC accepted.
  Today, UMUC classroom sites can be found throughout Maryland, the 
Washington, DC metropolitan area, and over 100 overseas locations. Last 
year, over 71,000 students were enrolled in UMUC classes. About 47,000 
were service members on active duty with the U.S. military, stationed 
stateside and abroad in over 29 countries. UMUC is proud of its long 
history of service to the military and is honored to count over 50 
admirals and generals among its alumni. Moreover, UMUC is a pioneer in 
distance learning; students now can ``attend class'' from anywhere in 
the world via the Internet.
  Ms. Smock has actively contributed to the growth and success of UMUC. 
She began working for the University System in 1966 and has served in 
the UMUC Overseas Programs Office where she worked as logistical 
coordinator for new faculty recruited to the European and Asian 
divisions. Further, she has been instrumental in the growth of the 
Alumni Association from its inception more than a decade ago. Today, 
the Association boasts of more than 35,000 alumni in Maryland and over 
100,000 UMUC alumni worldwide.
  During the past seven years, Ms. Smock has coordinated with many UMUC 
alumni-volunteers and helped establish a stronger relationship with the 
Maryland General Assembly. She has been a tireless advocate for UMUC, 
its alumni, and their support of their alma mater--a global University 
that will provide to any student, anywhere, the opportunity for 
lifelong learning.
  Ms. Smock deserves the thanks and praise of Marylanders and this 
grateful nation which she has faithfully served for so long. I ask the 
Members of the House to join me in wishing her and her husband, Ray, 
all the best in the years ahead.

                          ____________________