[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 100 (Tuesday, June 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING DR. DONALD F. AVERILL FOR 47 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN 
                               EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2008

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to a true leader in my community, Dr. Donald F. Averill, who is 
retiring after 47 years of dedication to education and economic 
development throughout the Inland Empire.
  With 14 years of teaching at the secondary level, and 33 years of 
community college experience, Dr. Averill was chosen to be Chancellor 
of a very important education provider in my home town of San 
Bernardino, California, a position he held for 8 years. The San 
Bernardino Community College District is comprised of two colleges, San 
Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College, the Professional 
Development Center, and its own public television and radio station, 
KVCR.
  Beginning with 140 students at two high school campuses in 1926, San 
Bernardino Valley Community College has grown into a district with two 
modern campuses and thousands of students. It has served more than 
700,000 students over the past 80 years.
  Our district is blessed with many fine educational professionals who 
are passionate about their work and care deeply about the lives of 
their students. Dr. Averill took his interest one step further by 
working with the county and the K-12 students to increase the college-
going rate in the region by 45 percent, with the majority of that 
enrollment going to the community colleges.
  Dr. Averill's forward-thinking skills are an essential part of what 
has made San Bernardino a model community for educational development. 
In particular, he is credited with developing and implementing 
extensive workforce development programs that incorporate education and 
economic development in California. He was one of the founders of the 
Economic Development Network of the California Community Colleges, or 
EdNet, an innovative technological tool that utilizes existing 
community college infrastructure to promote the State's economic 
expansion. He also was instrumental in completing extensive long-range 
facilities plans for San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills 
College in Yucaipa. Dr. Averill's hard work and dedication to ensuring 
the future success of our young people is truly appreciated.
  My constituents in the 41st District are particularly grateful for 
Dr. Averill's role in adding a simulated fire fighting unit for 
training in aircraft fire fighting. Our region is always at risk from 
devastating wildfires and it is crucial that our firefighters have the 
training tools they need to protect our communities.
  Beyond his achievements in the educational field, Dr. Averill is a 
community leader. He serves on the executive committee of the Economic 
Development Network of California, and is a board member of the Inland 
Empire Economic Partnership, the Workforce Investment Board, the San 
Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce and Arrowhead United Way.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Dr. Averill for his 
many accomplishments and thanking him for making our community a leader 
in educational, professional and economic advancement. The valuable 
contributions he has made throughout his career will be remembered for 
years to come.

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