[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. GRETCHEN SCHUETTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Ms. HOOLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Dr. 
Gretchen Schuette for her distinguished service as the eighth president 
of Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. The name Chemeketa is 
a Kalapuya word meaning ``place of peace.'' Willamette Valley Native 
Americans would gather at a place they called Chemeketa, today known as 
Salem. There, they conducted their councils, renewed friendships, and 
shared old ideas and cultivated new ones.
  Dr. Schuette embodies the spirit of Chemeketa and throughout her 
tenure has brought the institution to new levels of academic 
achievement and excellence in technical training, workforce 
development, and business support.
  Dr. Schuette has overseen an enterprise that is one of the largest--
public or private--in Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley. Last year more 
than 57,000 students attended classes at the college that has campuses 
and centers in Salem, Woodburn, McMinnville, Dallas and the Santiam 
Canyon. After serving the college as one of its deans until 1992, 
Gretchen returned as president in July 2001, and she steered Chemeketa 
through difficult financial times as state resources fell and student 
populations continued their increase of 31 percent in the last 10 
years.
  Dr. Schuette has been an education leader at all levels in Oregon, 
having served as superintendent of the Gresham-Barlow School District 
and dean of distance education for Oregon State University in addition 
to her work for three Oregon community colleges.
  She has earned degrees in English literature, botany and geological 
oceanography from Smith College, Central Michigan University and Oregon 
State University. She remains a dedicated Beaver fan.
  In addition to receiving awards from the Oregon Diversity Institute 
and the American Association for Women in Community Colleges, Dr. 
Schuette has served on the Marion County Families and Children 
Commission, the Public Commission of the Oregon Legislature, and the 
Oregon State Board of Higher Education.
  I hope Members will join me in extending my heartfelt gratitude to 
Dr. Schuette for her leadership of Chemeketa Community College and 
offer our well wishes as she retires to pursue her next great 
adventures.

                          ____________________