[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1038-E1039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MRS. KAREN BOUNDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Mrs. 
Karen Bounds of Hermiston, Oregon. Today millions of young people 
across the country are graduating and looking forward with hope and 
confidence to the next step in their lives. Whether it is college, 
service in our armed forces, or civilian employment, young adults are 
prepared for success by the caring and invested teachers they 
encountered throughout their education. Karen was one such teacher.
  It is with a note of sadness that I honor Karen today, because I do 
so on the occasion of her retirement. For more than 20 years, she has 
taught essential courses including English, history, and government at 
Hermiston High School, which is located in my district. Future students 
at HHS will, regrettably, miss the opportunity to learn from Karen's 
knowledge and enthusiasm as well as her manifest passion for teaching 
and compassion toward her students.
  Karen has never been one to call it a day after putting in the 
minimum number of hours; she has consistently volunteered her time and 
resources to enhance the educational opportunities available to her 
students. Many times over the years, for instance, Karen brought groups 
of exemplary students to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Close 
Up program, which gives high school students firsthand exposure to 
their nation's capital. She also dedicated much of her time to training 
Hermiston's successful Mock Trial team and escorting it to district and 
state competitions.
  Karen never missed an opportunity to expose her civics and government 
students to the real work of government. I myself enjoyed the 
opportunity to address her class as a guest speaker. It will come as no 
surprise that the questions I faced from her students were pointed and 
informed. It was a pleasure to meet those students and witness their 
interest and curiosity about our system of government. It is more 
important than ever that Americans take an active and informed interest 
in their government, and Karen equipped her students with the 
foundation essential for doing so.
  A California native, Karen met her husband of 45 years, Roger Bounds, 
while attending their alma mater, Stanford University. Karen and Roger 
raised four children and, as you might imagine, Karen's efforts on 
behalf of her students represent just a fraction of the commitments she 
has assumed over her years as a teacher, a mother, and an involved 
citizen. Between the kids' sporting and scholastic events, Karen found 
the time to participate in many community-service organizations, 
including as a founding director of the Desert Arts Council, which has 
brought live performances to Hermiston for almost three decades, and as 
a member of the vestry of Saint John's Episcopal Church.
  Mr. Speaker, I acknowledged a trace of sadness in marking Karen's 
retirement from Hermiston High School, but it is just a trace. I am 
delighted that she will have even more time in retirement to dedicate 
to her family, her friends, and her community in Hermiston, Oregon.
  On behalf of that community, which I am pleased to represent, I thank 
Karen Bounds for her years of service and dedication to the students at 
Hermiston High School. While she will be missed, we wish her a long, 
productive, and enjoyable retirement.

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