[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 177 (Thursday, December 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH K. AWADJIE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2016

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and admiration 
that I stand before you today to honor Mr. Joseph K. Awadjie for his 
years of compassionate advocacy and tireless work to improve the lives 
of our students.
  Born and raised in Ghana, Mr. Awadjie is fluent in the languages of 
Twi, Fanti and Ga. Emigrating from Ghana, Mr. Awadjie was drawn to CUNY 
because of its rich diversity and broad service to New Yorkers of all 
backgrounds. Mr. Awadjie is dedicated to ensuring that students have an 
active role in university governance, and is committed to improving the 
quality of public higher education through advocacy efforts at the 
university, city, and state levels.
  Mr. Awadjie earned his Master of Science Degree at Brooklyn College, 
specializing in Natural and Behavioral Sciences, in June of 2016. Prior 
to his graduate studies, Mr. Awadjie earned his B.S in Exercise Science 
from Brooklyn College. In 2014, Mr. Awadjie was elected the thirtieth 
Chairperson of the University Student Senate (USS) and just completed 
his second term as the USS Chairperson and CUNY Trustee.
  Mr. Awadjie has a long record of service at CUNY. While at Brooklyn 
College, he has served as Senator of Student Government, President of 
the Forensics Debate team and the Academic Club Association, and 
Captain of the men's soccer team. Shortly upon returning to Brooklyn 
College for his Master's degree, Mr. Awadjie was elected President of 
the Graduate Student Organization.
  During his tenure at USS, Mr. Awadjie was an integral part of the 
grassroots campaign that restored a Merit Based Scholarship within the 
New York City Council Budget. With strong support from the City Council 
Committee on Higher Education, Mr. Awadjie helped secure $11.1 million 
in the FY2015 Budget and $17 million in the FY2016 budget for a Merit 
Based Scholarship for CUNY students. In 2016, Mr. Awadjie led a 
successful student campaign to halt tuition increases at CUNY, while 
helping acquire increased funding for essential university programming.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in honoring Mr. Joseph K. Awadjie for his 
consistently remarkable dedication to education and longstanding 
commitment to improving our community.

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