[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 30 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E252-E253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DR. EDUARDO JOSE PADRON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 27, 2012

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of the Greater 
Miami Chamber of Commerce's Sand In My Shoes Commitment to the 
Community award ceremony tonight, I rise to recognize and honor one of 
our nation's top education leaders, Dr. Eduardo Jose Padron. For nearly 
20 years, Dr. Padron has served as the president of Miami Dade College, 
MDC, the nation's largest higher education institution. He has garnered 
recognition for his leadership from six American presidents and from 
organizations throughout the world.
  Dr. Padron was born on June 26, 1944, in Santiago, Cuba. After 
arriving in the United States as a refugee at the age of 15, Dr. Padron 
capitalized on his educational opportunities by earning a Ph.D. in 
Economics from the University of Florida. A decade later, Dr. Padron 
would become the president of Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus. 
There, he implemented revolutionary initiatives that earned him a 
stellar reputation and propelled

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him to the presidency of our nation's largest higher education 
institution.
  President Padron's transformational undertakings at Miami Dade 
College, resulting in 174,000 students enrolled, greater student 
access, retention, graduation and overall achievement, have been hailed 
as the model for innovation in higher education. Currently, MDC enrolls 
the most minorities nationally--including the most African Americans 
and Hispanics. The recent list of awards applauding MDC's achievements 
includes the 2011 Council for Higher Education Accreditation ``Award 
for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes'' 
and the ``U.S. President's Higher Education Community Service Honor 
Roll.''
  President Padron's achievements in higher education have earned him 
hundreds of coveted awards, commendations and appointments. Six 
American presidents have nominated him to nationally prominent posts. 
Recently, President Obama selected him to represent the United States 
at the UNESCO's World Conference on Higher Education and appointed him 
as chair of the White House Commission on Educational Excellence for 
Hispanic Americans. President Clinton named him one of America's 
foremost educators and President George W. Bush nominated him to the 
National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board and the National 
Economic Summit. Among his list of prestigious awards are the ``2008 
Charles Kennedy Equity Award,'' ``2008 Reginald Wilson Diversity 
Leadership Award,'' and the ``2008 Innovator of the Year'' from the 
League for Innovation.
  Please join me in honoring Miami Dade College President Eduardo J. 
Padron for his commitment to making quality education accessible to 
minorities and for his revolutionary contributions to higher education.

                          ____________________