[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 98 (Thursday, July 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF VIRGIL BLANCO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 2004

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Virgil Blanco on 
being selected as a Fulbright Scholar for 2004. For his remarkable 
achievement, Mr. Blanco was honored by the Board of Chosen Freeholders 
on Thursday, May 20, 2004, at Middlesex County Administration Building 
in New Brunswick, NJ.
  Mr. Blanco, a professor of modern languages and department chairman 
and director of the Center for International Education at Middlesex 
County Community College, has been selected as a 2004 Fulbright Scholar 
Program recipient. The Fulbright Scholar Program is an honor bestowed 
upon only 800 American faculty and professionals, by the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. Mr. 
Blanco recently spent 3 weeks visiting French and German post-secondary 
educational institutions, learning in-depth their educational system. 
He also lectured about community colleges and immigrant students in the 
United States.
  Mr. Blanco has been an active member in his community. He was founder 
and chairman of the New Jersey Collegiate Consortium for International 
Education, and also served as chairman of the New Jersey World Trade 
Association, co-chairman of the New Jersey World Trade Conference, and 
member of the State Advisory Committee on Bilingual Education.
  For his outstanding research and dedicated community service, Mr. 
Blanco has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants, such as 
the N.J. World Trade Council Education Award, the Above and Beyond 
Award for Teaching Excellence, and the N.J. Department of Labor and 
Industry Research Grant.
  Mr. Blanco received his bachelor's degree from the University of 
Miami, a master's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and his 
post-doctorate degree from the University of Madrid.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Virgil Blanco for 
his continued pursuit of educational excellence, and for his dedicated 
service to the students of Middlesex County Community College.

                          ____________________