[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 100 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         HONORING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF CAL STATE SAN MARCOS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 19, 2004

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate California 
State University San Marcos for its 15th Anniversary which will be 
celebrated on September 1, 2004. It is an honor to recognize the 
accomplishments and contributions that this university has made over 
the years for the City of San Marcos, and the San Diego region, and for 
the priceless opportunities it has provided for over 13,000 graduates.
  Over the past 15 years Cal State San Marcos has grown from a small 
campus with classes held in rented space next to a furniture store to 
an accredited four-year institution that is the leader for higher 
education in the northern San Diego region. The creation of Cal State 
San Marcos resulted from more than 20 years of work by business and 
civic leaders who understood how important a university campus could be 
to the region. A leader among them was Assemblyman and later State 
Senator William A. Craven, who obtained initial state funding for the 
campus.
  In 1990, President Bill Stacey, twelve founding faculty and key 
administrative support staff were hired and the campus consisted of 448 
upper division students. As of today I am proud to say there are 7,777 
student enrolled at Cal State San Marcos. I have closely observed the 
rapid growth of this institution and couldn't be more proud of its 
accomplishments. I have witnessed numerous campus facilities rise from 
the hillside where it was established, including their newest addition, 
the Kellogg Library.
  I have worked closely with past presidents, including Dr. Alexander 
Gonzalez, who served the institution from July 1998 to July 2003, and 
is currently the president of California State University Sacramento, 
the sixth largest campus of the twenty-three California State 
Universities. His successor, Dr. Karen Haynes, has come to lead Cal 
State San Marcos from the Victoria, Texas, campus of the University of 
Houston, where she was president since 1995. With the exceptional 
vision and value of leaders like these two, a city that embraces 
collegiate excellence, and a community that prides itself on positive 
growth, it is only befitting that a successful institution of higher 
education emerge.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize California State University 
San Marcos for 15 years of collegiate excellence and the continuing 
role this institution plays in enriching the lives of students. This 
campus is fused with boundless optimism as it prepares to meet the 
higher education needs of a growing region. Happy Birthday Cal State 
San Marcos.

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