[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF AARP'S ETHEL PERCY ANDRUS LEGACY AWARD BEING GIVEN TO 
                      ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

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                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2008

  Mr. BECERRA. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today and 
acknowledge a special honor that is being bestowed on Abraham Lincoln 
High School in Los Angeles, within the 31st Congressional District that 
I am proud to serve.
  Performing arts will once again flourish at Abraham Lincoln High 
School after many years of absence, thanks to a generous Ethel Percy 
Andrus Legacy Award from AARP. This grant recognizes the founding of 
AARP in 1958 by Dr. Andrus, who served as principal of Lincoln High 
School from 1916-1944.
  As part of its 50th anniversary celebration in 2008, AARP is awarding 
more that $1 million in Ethel Percy Andrus Legacy Awards to recognize 
excellence and innovation in education at high schools nationwide. The 
first of these awards will reinvigorate the performing arts program at 
Abraham Lincoln High School--connecting the high school's heritage of 
achievement with its very bright future.
  On February 8, 2008, representatives of AARP, the city of Los 
Angeles, and the State of California will gather at Lincoln High to 
dedicate a plaque at the new Ethel Percy Andrus Performing Arts Center. 
This center will enable students to receive pre-professional training 
in music, dance, theater and other performing arts.
  The school will also enjoy the support of many AARP volunteers who 
will contribute their time and efforts in bringing the school's new 
performing arts center to life. These volunteers will continue the 
strong legacy established by Dr. Andrus of connecting all generations 
to work for the greater good of the community.
  The more one learns about Dr. Andrus and her background and deeds . . 
. the more one marvels about her accomplishments and vision. In 1916, 
Dr. Andrus became California's first female high school principal when 
she was invited to head the faculty and staff of the former East Los 
Angeles High School. She renamed the school ``Abraham Lincoln High 
School'' to help inspire her students. The community represented a 
broad range of ethnicities and races--32 languages were spoken in 
students' homes and most families were low-income.
  Dr. Andrus held her students and teachers to high academic standards. 
She believed in promoting creativity and fun, and fostered dances, 
plays, and musical performances to encourage them to pursue their 
creative talents, while also breaking down the barriers between 
students' cultures and backgrounds. She also set out to pull the 
community and the school together, involving parents and local 
organizations in many ways. At the time, extracurricular activities 
were rare. Where they did exist, they were considered frills of little 
value. Working against this bias, Dr. Andrus involved Lincoln's 
students in serving the community. Students worked in hospitals as 
nurses' aides, ran errands for shut-in residents, supervised playground 
activities for younger children, and formed art classes to make posters 
for local events.

  She retired from teaching in 1944 in order to care for her ailing 
mother. After getting involved with the California Retired Teachers 
Association, Dr. Andrus was shocked to realize that so many retired 
educators were financially struggling because of inadequate income and 
health care. She established the National Retired Teachers Association 
in 1947 to give them a national voice, and established the first 
nationwide group health insurance program for its members.
  In 1958, she established the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization now 
known as AARP so that people at mid-life and older could enjoy 
independence, dignity and purpose as they aged. Since its founding, 
AARP's motto has been ``To serve, not to be served.'' Since its 
founding, AARP has grown to more than 39 million members with more than 
3.3 million members in California alone.
  Ethel Percy Andrus passed away in July, 1967, but her legacy lives on 
in countless ways. I am pleased that one very special way that she 
lives on will be in the songs and dances of the students at Abraham 
Lincoln High School. I have no doubt she will be checking in on their 
progress from time to time and rejoicing in their talents!
  Abraham Lincoln once said, ``Whatever you are, be a good one.'' Ethel 
Percy Andrus embodied this clear bold statement and the students at 
this school carrying his name, and all of us, should also rise to this 
challenge. Each of us can make a difference.
  I congratulate James Molina, principal of Abraham Lincoln High 
School, and the students and parents of this fine school, and commend 
AARP for giving students fresh opportunities to grow academically, 
creatively and personally--sharing their ``Lincoln spirit'' with a 
nation and a world that needs their intelligence, commitment and 
idealism.

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