[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E624-E625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF DR. AMELITO ENRIQUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2012

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Amelito Enriquez who has 
received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics 
and Engineering Mentoring. Dr. Enriquez, a Professor of Engineering and 
Mathematics at Canada College in Redwood City, California, is one of 
nine individuals to receive this prestigious award and he will serve as 
a resource for federal efforts to develop the national Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and research 
sector.
  During his 17 years at Canada College, Dr. Enriquez--or Dr. E as his 
students like to call him--has demonstrated his commitment to increased 
participation and success of minorities and women in science, 
mathematics and engineering.
  He has secured over $10 million in federal and state grants to 
develop programs such as COMETS, Creating Opportunities for Minorities 
in Engineering, Technology and Science. COMETS allows students from 
two-year colleges in San Mateo County to intern at the NASA Ames 
Research Center for a year and prepares them to be competitive once 
they transfer to a four-year college.
  The Summer Engineering Institute is a two-week program at San 
Francisco State University for high school students interested in 
engineering and for community college students already studying 
engineering who hope to transfer to a four-year college to finish their 
degrees. The Bridge to Engineering for Veterans program helps veterans 
to transition from military to engineering careers.
  The students of Dr. Enriquez adore him because he is making a 
difference in their lives. They wrote the letters of support that led 
to his nomination for the presidential honor. Dr. E understands the 
importance of encouragement and mentorship. He grew up in the 
Philippines with what he calls a ``me-too complex.'' As the youngest 
son, he wanted to be whatever his older siblings or cousins wanted to 
be, but they told him he couldn't. He recalls thinking that the more 
people were saying that he couldn't do something, the more he wanted to 
do it.
  Dr. Enriquez wanted to be a priest, a basketball player, but 
eventually found his calling when he studied Engineering at the 
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. He earned his B.S. 
in Geodetic Engineering in 1984. After a six-month stint with a large 
company, he started his own business with friends, taught at his alma 
mater and then

[[Page E625]]

moved to the United States. He received his M.S. in Geodetic Science 
from Ohio State University, Columbus in 1989 and his Ph.D. in 
Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine in 
1994.
  While looking for teaching positions, Dr. Enriquez discovered the 
community college system which, he says, appealed to him because the 
larger universities wanted professors to focus on research while he 
wanted to focus on teaching. He started teaching at Canada College in 
1994 and almost immediately started securing grants. In his view, 
bringing in money is just another way to help students succeed.
  Dr. Enriquez is the chair elect of the American Society of 
Engineering Education, Pacific Southwest Section; the vice chair of the 
American Society of Engineering Education, Two-Year College Division; 
and a member of both the California Engineering Liaison Council and the 
California Mathematics Council Community Colleges.
  He has received numerous best paper awards from the American Society 
of Engineering Education, the Hewlett-Packard Excellence in Technology 
for Teaching Award and the League of California Community Colleges Out-
Of-The-Box Thinkers Award, among others.
  When Dr. E is not mentoring students and inventing programs, he 
enjoys music, weight lifting, hiking, and reading.
  He and his spouse David Childers live in San Francisco.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor Dr. Amelito 
Enriquez, an exceptional teacher, mentor, and engineer who has opened 
the hearts and minds of thousands of students to the world of science, 
math, and engineering.

                          ____________________