[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF DR. JERRY BEASLEY

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, we all know that college can 
be a wonderful, eventful, and sometimes overwhelming time in the life 
of a young person. With new doors opening and a plethora of choices 
ahead, the years that young people devote to their college education 
shape the person they grow to be. We should all hope that when our 
loved ones set out on this journey that they encounter role models and 
mentors like Dr. Jerry Beasley. He has steered Concord University since 
1985, in which time he has had an immeasurable impact on the 
institution and its students. In the time I have been allotted, I 
cannot do justice to the great service Dr. Beasley has dedicated to 
Concord University, but through the examples I can provide I hope to at 
least honor these selected accomplishments.
  From the beginning of his career at Concord, Dr. Beasley has embodied 
the university's mission of learning and service. Traditionally, 
university presidents hold elegant ceremonies and inauguration parties 
in order to celebrate themselves and their achievements before 
beginning work. Dr. Beasley is not one of these presidents. He 
preferred to donate the funds usually allocated for such ceremonies to 
the support of student scholarships, setting a precedent of 
selflessness he continued throughout his tenure. He taught his students 
that giving and service were the foundation of citizenship, and 
renewing Concord's commitment to social responsibility.
  As many of you know, access to technology is an issue of particular 
importance to me. I have committed myself to the enhancement of 
technology resources for students in West Virginia, a commitment which 
Dr. Beasley and I share. During his tenure as president and thanks, in 
part, to his oversight, the $13.9 million Rahall Technology Center is 
now complete and open for student use. Its 24-hour facilities provide 
students with access to technology ranging from high-speed internet to 
computer science courses.
  Our society today is becoming increasingly dependent on technology. 
As we become integrated into a global marketplace, the values of 
knowledge and service have become even more important. The expansion of 
our resources and influence demands that we all develop a greater 
understanding of the world we live in and the people we share it with. 
Under Dr. Beasley's leadership, Concord University has met these 
challenges headon. The student body has grown significantly reaching an 
all-time peak enrollment of 3,055 students in the fall of 2001. The 
student body has also become incredibly diverse, with representatives 
from 27 States, 22 countries, and the District of Columbia. The 
diversity of faces and backgrounds at Concord is also complemented by a 
diverse range of study abroad opportunities, with scholarships 
available for study in Europe, South America, and around the world.
  Dr. Beasley not only enhanced the diversity of the Concord student 
body, but also broadened the resources available on campus. Since the 
early 1930s, a goal of an interfaith chapel has been kept alive on the 
Concord campus, but, for many years, the project was left unfinished. 
Dr. Beasley has shepherded the project, which is now nearing 
completion. The building will mark not only the campus's concern for 
multicultural understanding, but also of Dr. Beasley's ambition to this 
end.
  Concord University students can now enjoy a wealth of opportunities 
without fearing the exorbitant financial burdens of education. 
Financial aid and scholarships are now more available than ever with 
more than 90 percent of Concord's students receiving some form of 
educational assistance. Dr. Beasley was instrumental in the effort to 
bring programs such as the Bonner Scholars program to campus.
  What I admire the most about Dr. Beasley, though, is his personal 
commitment to public service, and the inspirational example he has set 
for his children, his students, and all of us. He has dedicated his 
career to improving education, and for that we owe him our sincerest 
thanks. Dr. Beasley, I am very grateful for your contributions to 
Concord University, and I wish you well in a peaceful 
retirement.

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