[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 53 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HOBBS HIGH SCHOOL INSPIRATION AWARD

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                           HON. STEVAN PEARCE

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2006

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Hobbs High 
School, in Hobbs New Mexico, which recently earned the 2006 College 
Board Inspiration Award.
  The College Board's Inspiration Award annually honors three schools 
nationwide that have demonstrated extraordinary achievements in 
expanding access to college, particularly in financially disadvantaged 
areas.
  Hobbs High School is a model of educational success and its receipt 
of this award is an accolade to their hard work and dedication to 
improving the opportunities available to their students.
  Hobbs is a community that receives less funding per pupil than any 
other district in New Mexico and has twice as many people in terms of 
percentage living at or below the poverty level compared to the 
national average. However, in spite of these setbacks Hobbs High School 
has made extraordinary advances in expanding access to college for 
their students.
  Approximately 55 percent of all secondary students at Hobbs High 
School now participate in Advanced Placement and Pre-Advanced Placement 
courses and they currently have the largest Advanced Placement program 
in the State of New Mexico. Demonstrated success has already been seen 
with last year's 97 percent graduation rates and the increase in the 
number of those individuals who went on to college upon graduation.
  Hobbs High School is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when 
teachers, students, and community leaders come together to ensure that 
plentiful opportunities exist for their students. I ask my colleagues 
in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Hobbs 
High School for this wonderful academic achievement.

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