[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 60 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN HONOR OF THE GABRIEL ZIMMERMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2012

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer tribute to The Gabriel 
Zimmerman Scholarship Fund at University of California, Santa Cruz and 
the recipient of the inaugural award, Yethzell Diaz, a senior majoring 
in Latin American and Latino studies and sociology.
  Gabriel Zimmerman graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2002 with a degree 
in sociology. He served as community outreach director for 
Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Tragically, he was one of six people 
fatally wounded in the Tucson, Arizona shooting rampage that also 
critically injured Representative Giffords. He was the first 
congressional staffer to give his life in the line of duty. Gabe was a 
passionate public servant, committed to non-violent solutions and 
consensus and was motivated to help people.
  Moved by his death, UCSC alumni Jonathan Klein and Alex Clemens 
established a scholarship fund in his honor and offered an initial 
gift. The scholarship is designed to support students commited to 
public service.
   On Friday, April 27th Gabe's mother Emily Nottingham will present 
the first scholarship award to Yethzell Diaz. Yethzell has already 
demonstrated her commitment to public service and social issues. After 
high school, she lived in Paraguay for seven months doing human rights 
work with Amnesty International. At UCSC she has worked with other 
students to create and implement a program in Watsonville schools to 
increase computer literacy among Spanish-speaking parents. She has also 
worked to start ``Strive for College'', a program the will help prepare 
students from underserved and disadvantaged communities to successfully 
transition from high school to college.
  Mr. Speaker, this scholarship not only honors the efforts to which 
Gabe Zimmerman devoted his life, it also will support the work of 
Yethzell Diaz and future students who are involved in helping average 
citizens improve their quality of life.

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