[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING SCHOOLCRAFT COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 23, 2011

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Schoolcraft 
College in my hometown of Livonia, Michigan as it celebrates 50 years 
of serving the residents of southeastern Michigan.
  In October of 1961, voters approved the formation of Northwest Wayne 
Community College. On February 6, 1963 the college was renamed 
Schoolcraft College in honor of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, an American 
geographer, geologist, and ethnologist, noted for his early studies of 
Native American cultures, as well as for his 1832 discovery of the 
source of the Mississippi River.
  An essential part of our community, Schoolcraft College continues to 
provide outstanding and affordable educational opportunities to a 
district reaching into three counties, sixteen municipalities and six 
school districts. While best known for its Culinary Arts, Nursing and 
Public Safety programs, Schoolcraft serves students by providing 
general education and transfer credits at reasonable cost.
  Having served as a member of the Schoolcraft College Board of 
Trustees, I am impressed by the college's intelligent investment in 
expanding and upgrading the school's infrastructure. This has provided 
tremendous opportunities to educate and re-train the workforce in 
Southeast Michigan. In 2003, the ribbon cutting ceremony opened the 
VistaTech Center. A state of the art facility, it is home to 
Schoolcraft College's award winning culinary arts program and business 
development center. The Culinary Arts Department boasts four Certified 
Master Chefs and seven Executive Chefs. This gives Schoolcraft College 
a higher Certified-Master-Chef-per-student ratio than any other 
culinary school in the country. The VistaTech Center also is home to 
the American Harvest Restaurant, a student operated restaurant, where 
students provide exceptional gourmet cuisine and service to the local 
public.
  In 2008, Schoolcraft hosted the grand opening for the new Biomedical 
Technology Center, BTC. This cutting edge building is home to several 
science and technology-focused programs and its growing nursing 
program. This building supports the mission to train our youth in 
promising future careers in the high tech and biomedical fields. The 
Biomedical Technology Center hosts truly top-notch labs: Imaging and 
Analysis Lab, Anatomy and Physiology Lab, Biomedical Engineering 
Technology Lab, Cellular and Molecular Biology Lab.
  From an initial enrollment of 2,425, attendance has now grown to more 
than 36,000 students each year, each of whom can choose from 70 
academic majors. Schoolcraft's Continuing Education and Professional 
Development Courses reach an additional 16,000 annually through 
credential programs, professional development, personal enrichment, and 
courses designed to further personal interests.
  Mr. Speaker, Schoolcraft College has served, trained, educated and 
advanced the interests of our region for 50 years. As a former 
Schoolcraft College trustee, I ask that we congratulate them on their 
devoted service as an exemplary and vibrant campus, finding innovative 
ways to inspire students of all ages to achieve more than they ever 
thought possible.

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