[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING REGIS HIGH SCHOOL REACH PROGRAM'S 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2012

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 10 year 
anniversary of the Recruiting Excellence in Academics for Catholic High 
Schools, or the REACH program, an innovative program devised and 
operated by Regis High School in my district for low income middle 
school students to prepare them for acceptance into the elite private, 
Catholic and public high schools in New York City.
  Regis High School was founded in 1914 as a 100 percent scholarship 
school and continues this fine tradition today. In that spirit Regis 
began the REACH program ten years ago to help low income middle school 
students to excel in their studies to allow them to not only attend the 
best high schools, but eventually the best colleges and universities in 
the country. Students from the REACH program have gone on to attend 
MIT, Boston College, Cornell, Williams and the University of Scranton.
  The REACH program is a study in what can be achieved if students are 
given the proper tools to excel. Students attend a six week summer 
program, Saturday sessions in both the spring and fall and engage in an 
independent research program in the winter. During each of these phases 
students are not only tutored to excel academically but are also 
provided with leadership training, a student mentor from Regis and 
eventually placement services into the best high schools in New York 
City.
  Ninety-six percent of students who participate in the REACH program 
have gone on to a four year institution of higher learning, many of 
whom are the first in their family to attend college. The REACH program 
can be used as an example for all of us that by giving students the 
appropriate tools they will excel.
  I want to congratulate Regis on their wonderful success and wish them 
even greater success in the next ten years.

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