[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 
                                PROGRAM

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                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2005

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to pay tribute to Hostos Community College Men's and Women's basketball 
programs for bringing championship trophies home to the Bronx. I am 
proud of this dedicated group of students for showing excellence on and 
off the court.
  Under the leadership of Coach Renee Bostic the Hostos women's 
basketball team set goals for themselves before the start of the 
season. Their relentless dedication and hard work paid off as they were 
the winners of the 2005 CUNY Athletic Conference Edison Basketball 
Championships for the second year in a row. Not to be outdone, the 
men's team led by Coach Robert Holford captured the 2005 NJCAA Men's 
Division III National Championship. This marks the first national 
basketball title won by a CUNY school since the 1950 CCNY men's 
basketball team captured both the NCAA and NIT titles. Like the women's 
program the men set early goals and followed through with their 
incredible work ethic.
  These two programs have done surprisingly well despite the fact that 
they have been in existence for no more than three years. It is a great 
compliment to this institution that only in its third year of existence 
the men's team has won a National Championship and that only in its 
second year of existence the women's team has already repeated as 
CUNYAC regular season and Tournament champions.
  The success that these two programs enjoyed on the court is much more 
than a reflection of their skills with a basketball but a reflection of 
their character. To reach the level of competition that these young 
people have achieved one must acquire certain qualities that will not 
only aid him/her in sport but in life as well; qualities such as 
discipline, patience and perseverance. I am proud to say these athletes 
have carried these qualities over to the classroom and are all top tier 
students.
  Vince Lombardi once stated that ``excellence is not a sometime 
thing.'' With their performance on and off the court, I think the men 
and women's basketball teams of Hostos Community College have 
demonstrated that these are words they live by.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that if these young men and women 
continue to exert themselves on and off the court they will be 
victorious in the game of life. Therefore, I ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring the outstanding student athletes of Hostos Community 
College in the Bronx.

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