[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING VASKEN HOGOPIAN, PH.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JASON ALTMIRE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2007

  Mr. ALTMIRE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Vasken Hagopian, 
Ph.D., who is retiring after more than 40 years of teaching, the past 
37 years of which were spent at my alma mater, Florida State 
University.
  Professor Hagopian is recognized as a world-renowned expert in high 
energy physics. His research has involved the use of high energy 
particle accelerators to study the properties of fundamental particles, 
such as the proton and the neutron.
  I first crossed paths with Professor Hagopian as an astronomy student 
at Florida State in 1986. I later worked with him during my time as a 
legislative assistant for former Congressman Pete Peterson of Florida 
in the mid-1990's.
  Over the years, students often asked him why it is important to study 
astronomy and related fields. Professor Hagopian would famously reply, 
``You never know, one of you might end up in Congress one day and have 
to vote on science budgets and space exploration.'' Like most things he 
taught his students, he was, in the long run, proven right.
  I wish Professor Hagopian well as he pursues new challenges and moves 
into the next phase of his extraordinary life.

                          ____________________