[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E225-E226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO ALEXANDER GONZALEZ ON HIS APPOINTMENT TO SERVE ON THE 
      COMMISSION ON EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR HISPANIC AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2002

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Alexander 
Gonzalez, the President of California State University San Marcos. This 
morning, President Gonzalez was sworn in to serve on President Bush's 
Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. President 
Bush authorized the Commission in October 2001, and charged it with 
creating a multi-year plan to close the educational achievement gap 
between Hispanic American students and their peers.
  On September 1, 1999 I stood beside Alexander Gonzalez while he was 
sworn in as the second President of the California State University at 
San Marcos. Together, we recognized the achievements of the University, 
which was celebrating its tenth anniversary, and reflected on the 
greatness and potential of the institution and its people.
  Since his inauguration, President Gonzalez has worked to make the 
University an epicenter for the diverse community that it serves. Under 
his leadership, Cal State San Marcos has expanded the National Latino 
Research Center, which disseminates research-based information 
regarding Hispanic populations in the U.S. The NLRC also facilitates 
the training of researchers to do research on Hispanic populations.
  Cal State San Marcos has also expanded The Barahona Center for the 
Study of Books in Spanish, which collects, catalogues, and reviews the 
world's only complete collection of Spanish-language books published 
since 1989 for children and adolescents. Programs of the Barahona 
Center focus on skill development in literacy, including literacy 
training for educators and parents, and services to assist librarians, 
parents, and teachers in book selection.
  In addition to these programs which document the history of Hispanic 
Americans, President Gonzalez is also working to improve their future, 
as Cal State San Marcos is training a new generation of teachers for 
our Nation's schools.
  As a former teacher and coach myself, both for students in public 
schools and for fighter pilots at the Top Gun Navy Fighter Weapons 
School at Miramar, I share with President Gonzalez a strong commitment 
to excellent education, and a desire to share this enthusiasm for 
learning. It is frustrating to me that our educational system has 
created an achievement gap between Hispanic Americans and their peers. 
Closing this achievement gap is going to require a fresh perspective on 
an old problem. Having seen the changes that Cal State San Marcos has 
inspired in our local community, I am confident that Alexander Gonzalez 
will be able to provide that perspective for the President's 
Commission. I am proud to rise today to recognize President Gonzalez, 
and I look forward to my continuing work with him to improve academic 
achievement for Hispanic Americans in San Diego, and now all across our 
great Nation.

[[Page E226]]



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