[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING PARTICIPANTS IN THE SUNY BUFFALO STATE CHALLENGE

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 7, 2015

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to recognize and 
acknowledge, my alma mater, SUNY Buffalo State. On June 29th, the 
university hosted the 5th annual Buffalo State Challenge awards 
luncheon, in Assembly Hall of the Campbell Student Union. The Buffalo 
State Challenge program serves high school students from public schools 
in Buffalo, throughout their four years of high school. This college 
prep initiative inspires success through the process of goal setting, 
to effect higher academic achievement and ultimately graduation from 
high school. This year's luncheon recognized the success of Buffalo 
State Challenge participants past and present.
   At its height, the Buffalo State Challenge served more than 125 high 
school students, most of them from McKinley High School, in my hometown 
of Buffalo, NY. The program challenges students to graduate from high 
school with an 85 or higher average. Those who do so, with requisite 
SAT scores, are awarded a scholarship for four consecutive years of 
enrollment at the college. Participants from McKinley's class of 2015 
represent the second consecutive graduating cohort since the program's 
inception in 2010. This year's awards luncheon also recognized the 
successes of previous participants in a feature titled ``Where are they 
now?'' This segment highlighted the successful outcomes of students who 
have entered college and the world of work since graduating from high 
school. Many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings were in 
attendance to celebrate this year's honorees.
   The luncheon also included the presence of special guests such as 
the President of SUNY Buffalo State, Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner and 
Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Hal D. Payne. Additionally key 
representatives from campus offices such as: Enrollment Management, 
Admissions, the Alumni Affairs Office, the Dean of Students, the Upward 
Bound Program, the Student Support Services Program, and Government 
Relations.
   As the Representative of the 26th Congressional District, I am proud 
to recognize the ongoing contributions of SUNY Buffalo State in 
cultivating a brighter future for high school students, through the 
continued success of the Buffalo State Challenge program. Please help 
me in congratulating this year's award recipients: Odalys Oritz, Ali 
Alshuaibi, Johnny Jackson, Destiny Simmons, Crystal Lewis McClary, Kyra 
King, Tionna Colbert, Tymon Turner, Kayla Cheney, Asia Lindsey, 
Jonathan Waller, Alaysia McKinnis, Tarlisa Bolden, Emery Campfield, 
Jordy Richiez, Ahmed Abdo and Carlton Bess. To all of these outstanding 
students: congratulations on your successful participation in the 
Buffalo State Challenge Program and best wishes for success as you 
continue to pursue your educational, professional and personal goals.

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