[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 175 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING JIM AYERS

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                         HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an incredible 
citizen of the 7th district of Tennessee.
  Jim Ayers is the founder of the Ayers Foundation; since the fall of 
2000, the Ayers Foundation has given as much as $4,000 a year in 
scholarships to every high school graduate from Decatur County who 
agrees to go to college or technical school. Yes, I said every high 
school graduate.
  Jim is a success in the health care, banking, real estate businesses 
to name a few--however, he has never forgotten his native Decatur 
County. Every community would be fortunate to have a Jim Ayers.
  It took Mr. Ayers about eight years to put together an endowment and 
a staff of counselors to work with the students of Riverside High 
School and Scotts Hill High School. The benefits that the students of 
these schools have received is evidence that Jim Ayers is doing a great 
thing for our young people.
  Only 25 percent of Riverside graduates pursued some form of 
postsecondary education before the scholarships were available. But the 
participation rate immediately shot up to 75 percent when the Ayers 
Foundation began. And now 90 percent of students at this school are 
able to further their education beyond high school.
  He not only provides financial assistance to the aspiring high school 
seniors, he has a direct talk with the students--telling them ``if 
anyone is going to take care of them, it's got to be themselves.''
  It is with great appreciation that I honor Mr. Jim Ayers for his 
service to community and for his commitment to education.

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