[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING YVONNE EWELL TOWNVIEW MAGNET SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 
SCHOOL ON BEING SELECTED AS ONE OF THE NATION'S TOP SCHOOLS BY NEWSWEEK

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2005

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to 
congratulate Yvonne Ewell Townview Magnet School for Engineering and 
Science for receiving the extraordinary honor of being ranked as one of 
the top schools in the country.
  Each year, Newsweek chooses this distinct group from a pool of more 
than 27,000 high schools in America. Newsweek unveiled its current list 
in the latest, May 16th edition.
  The Best High Schools list is assessed by using a ratio based on the 
number of Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate 
(IB) tests taken by all students at a school in 2004, divided by the 
number of graduating seniors. This formula is said to indicate a wide 
measure of students' readiness for higher level work. Based on this 
formula, Townview was ranked # six in the nation, and number one in the 
State of Texas.
  I am absolutely delighted that Townview has received a recognition I 
have long touted.
  Located in my district of Dallas, Texas, Townview Magnet is one of 
the most diverse schools in the state. More than two-thirds of 
Townview's student body consists of minorities.
  For the last four consecutive years, Townview has ranked number one 
in the nation, in the number of minority students to pass advanced 
calculus.
  It has been discussed on numerous occasions and in numerous venues 
that the United States will not be able to lead--nor for that matter, 
successfully compete--in the global economy if we cannot put a stop to 
the continuing shortage of highly qualified scientific and technology 
brainpower in this country.
  In response to this, in 2003, under the tutelage of Dr. Da Hsuan 
Feng, I partnered with the University of Texas at Dallas to sponsor a 
lecture series designed to expose Dallas-area high school students to 
the best and brightest minds in mathematics and science in order to 
promote career opportunities in those fields. Various leaders in these 
fields have participated in the lectures series, including, world-
renowned sickle cell researcher, Dr. Betty Pace; Nobel Laureate, Dr. 
Russell Hulse, and the remarkable Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
  This honor is of particular significance, as I have long championed 
the need for more emphasis in science and math education, particularly 
for young children. I believe these students and others like them will 
become tomorrow's leaders in the fields of science and technology. 
Showing students the importance and the value of the science and 
technology fields is a life long process.
  It cannot happen overnight. It begins here and now. I implore our 
community leaders to also encourage science education in young men and 
women.
  I would like to commend Townview's Science and Engineering School 
principal, Richard White and Executive Principal Alice Black for their 
``leadership and commitment to these students.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I congratulate the students, teachers, principals 
and parents of Townview Magnet School in Science and Engineering on 
this distinguished honor.

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