[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING CECELIA CUNNINGHAM AND JANET E. LIEBERMAN FOR LIFELONG 
                        COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2004

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Drs. Cecelia 
Cunningham and Janet E. Lieberman who tonight will receive the 
prestigious Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education. Dr. Cunningham 
founded the Middle College National Consortium at LaGuardia Community 
College. Dr. Lieberman founded the Middle College High School and co-
founded the Early College High School at LaGuardia Community College.
  Along with Drs. Cunningham and Lieberman, Robert Moses and Geoffrey 
Canada are being honored during an awards ceremony at the New York 
Public Library. The four have been chosen to receive the prestigious 
17th annual award for dedicating themselves to closing the achievement 
gap. These individuals have worked tirelessly and creatively to give 
children with few advantages the opportunity to achieve, both 
academically and ultimately professionally.
  Dr. Cunningham has spent her entire career educating children and 
firmly believes all children should be given the opportunity to 
succeed. This belief is what brought her more than twenty years ago to 
Middle College High School, an innovative approach to educating at risk 
students, where Dr. Cunningham served as principal. Out of her work 
with Middle College High School, Dr. Cunningham founded the Middle 
College National Consortium to provide professional development for 
secondary and postsecondary educators who work with underserved 
students.
  Dr. Lieberman believes that you should never underestimate the power 
of an idea. This belief, combined with the faith that all students can 
achieve, led her to originate new solutions to old problems, resulting 
in expanded academic opportunities for minority and underprivileged 
students. Thirty years ago, Dr. Lieberman designed the first public 
high school college collaborative model to help underserved students 
graduate from high school and go to college. Her vision of placing a 
high school on a college campus with smaller classes, committed 
teachers, intensive counseling and high expectations would keep 
students in school and encourage them to go on to college. Dr. 
Lieberman has proved that students who are placed in a college 
environment can achieve academically.
  I salute Drs. Cunningham and Lieberman and the other honorees for 
their remarkable and untiring contributions to education. America's 
youth will reap the rewards of their selfless dedication. They are 
truly gifted educators who have made a tremendous difference in the 
lives of so many.




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