[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 13, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 100TH ANIVERSARY OF PINEY WOODS SCHOOL

   Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to congratulate the 
Piney Woods School in Piney Woods, MS on their 100th anniversary. The 
Piney Woods School was founded in 1909 by Dr. Laurence C. Jones to 
educate the head, heart, and hands of young people. This transformative 
educational model was first exhibited by teaching the children of poor 
sharecroppers to read. Today, the school serves as a home, and offers 
educational opportunities to students from 23 States and 7 foreign 
countries.
  The Piney Woods School is one of only four historically African-
American boarding schools left in the United States. Diligently 
preparing their students for institutions of higher learning, Piney 
Woods propels 98 percent of its graduates on to attend some of the best 
colleges and universities in the country. The school has been featured 
on ``60 Minutes'' and ``U.S. News and World Report'' for their 
commitment to educate our disadvantaged youth.
  The Piney Woods School has also made a commitment to service and 
leadership in their community, State, and country. The school was the 
first high school in the Nation to incorporate an Americorps program 
into its curriculum. Each of the 50 members in the senior class at 
Piney Woods School serves in the role of a quarter-time Americorps 
volunteer. In this capacity, they are actively involved in providing 
service in disaster areas, building playgrounds in inner cities, 
creating afterschool programs for youth in rural American communities, 
and providing online tutorial services for students.
  I congratulate the Piney Woods School on 100 great years and commend 
them on their educational successes and commitment to service. I am 
proud that the Piney Woods School is in my home State of Mississippi, 
and I wish them the best in the future.

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