[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2005

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor 
Kalamazoo Public Schools' recently announced scholarship program: The 
Kalamazoo Promise. In a single word this program is tremendous. It is 
difficult to comprehend, but through the extreme generosity of an 
anonymous donor, or group of donors, every student enrolled in 
Kalamazoo Public Schools will now have the opportunity of receiving 
scholarship funding to attend one of Michigan's many superb public 
colleges.
  The Kalamazoo Promise will cover 100 percent of tuition and mandatory 
fees for graduates who have been enrolled in KPS since kindergarten and 
whose parents live in the school district. A partial scholarship of 
between 65 and 95 percent will be given to students who enter after 
kindergarten and before 10th grade.
  This is such terrific news for the folks of the Kalamazoo community. 
This remarkable scholarship program will promote a better educated work 
force, a friendly place to do business, and an unprecedented boom to 
business and economic development.
  A college education is the dream of our youngsters, and this great 
program will turn dreams into reality for literally thousands of 
students. With the ever rising costs of higher education, the Kalamazoo 
Promise sets a new incentive for our students to work hard and earn 
good grades so that they can attend a college of their choice.
  I would especially like to thank the donors whose generosity will not 
only bring the dream of a college education to the future of our 
students, but will also continue to make Kalamazoo a great place to 
live. I would like to also congratulate KPS Superintendent Janice Brown 
on this wonderful gift.

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