[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 144 (Thursday, November 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 MONICA ARMENTA LEAVES KOB-TV CHANNEL 4

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
an exceptional New Mexican and journalist, Monica Armenta. She will be 
leaving KOB-TV Channel 4 to become the new executive director of the 
Albuquerque Public Schools Foundation.
  Ms. Armenta has worked at KOB-TV for over 20 years, beginning as a 
19-year-old intern and She has been the morning news show anchor there 
for the past 15 years. She has always held herself and her colleagues 
to a higher standard and this has resulted in the exceptional quality 
of her news coverage.
  She has been recognized by numerous awards throughout her career in 
broadcast journalism. She is the recipient of the Rocky Mountain Emmy 
Award 1986-87 for her spot coverage of the Global Hilton hot air 
balloon crash and she was also given the UNM Professional Achievement 
Award. Ms. Armenta has been selected as one of New Mexico's 40 top 
influential people under 40 by New Mexico Business Weekly as well as a 
YWCA Woman on the Move. Ms. Armenta has also been a notable speaker at 
conferences, awards dinners and schools.
  Aside from being a famous and reliable TV anchor that thousands of 
New Mexicans welcome into their home every morning, Ms. Armenta has 
shown herself to be a vital leader in New Mexico and her new job with 
the Albuquerque Public Schools Foundation is a testament of her 
continued commitment to enhancing her community.
  Ms. Armenta has shown her dedication to bettering education and was a 
former journalism teacher at West Mesa High School. I commend her for 
embracing her roots in New Mexico and working to improve the 
educational system that has been such a part of her life. Ms. Armenta 
told a reporter in July, ``I'm a product of APS and I feel it's time 
for me to give back.''
  I have enjoyed appearing with Monica on her program ``Eye on New 
Mexico'' and have consistently found her news coverage to be smart, 
informative and reliable. I admire her exceptional ability to balance 
her roles as a mother, a wife, a journalist and an activist.
  Although she will be greatly missed as a journalist, I am certain 
that she will be a wonderful addition to the APS community. Her energy, 
intelligence and enthusiasm have always translated into success and I 
anticipate that her career in the education community will not only be 
rewarding for her as an individual, but will provide the Albuquerque 
Public Schools Foundation with a wonderful new voice of leadership. 
Although the state of New Mexico is losing a valued journalist we are 
gaining a vocal and significant advocate for the school system.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing Monica and 
her family luck as they embark on this new chapter in their life. Thank 
you Monica, for your service and contribution to New Mexico.

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