[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1143]]
CONGRATULATING THE COUNCIL OF COLLEGE PRESIDENTS ON THEIR BEING HONORED 
  BY LEADERSHIP WILKES-BARRE FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP EXAMPLE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the 
Council of Presidents from the Wyoming Valley's five institutions of 
higher education that includes King's College, Wilkes University, 
College Misericordia, Penn State University and the Luzerne County 
Community College.
  In the mid 1980s, the presidents of these five institutions came 
together upon realizing that although they compete for students and 
funding, they are also an invaluable resource to the greater community 
in which they are located. That realization prompted the formation of 
the Council of Presidents as a vehicle to promote cooperation and 
sharing of common goals in a manner that maximizes the effort involved.
  Since then, the Council of Presidents has been a positive force in 
downtown Wilkes-Barre economic development efforts, the formation of 
the Diamond City Partnership, the Wilkes-Barre Innovation Center, the 
Great Valley Technology Alliance, City Vest and the Joint Urban Studies 
Center, to name just a few of their accomplishments.
  The Council of Presidents stands as a beacon that focuses a bright 
light on the positive things that can be achieved through cooperative 
action. Not only has their outstanding leadership and example proven to 
be a blueprint for success in the community arena, it has also paid 
vast dividends to each of the schools the presidents represent.
  Cooperation in designing and developing academic course offerings has 
benefited from the Council of Presidents and their foresight and 
collective zeal to improve educational opportunities for all students 
attending their respective institutions.
  The Council of Presidents has been especially sensitive to changing 
elements in society and has responded promptly and efficiently to meet 
those challenges. The Council of Presidents has worked cooperatively to 
consolidate Spanish language development to accommodate a growing 
Hispanic population in the region.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Council of 
Presidents on this notable occasion. The people of the greater Wyoming 
Valley are better served because of the work accomplished by this 
dedicated group of men and women. And their cooperative example should 
serve as a model for other groups, both public and private, who seek to 
provide a higher level of service in the performance of their duties.

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