[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF SUE SCHOONER OF GIRLS' GROUP FOR RECEIVING THE ATHENA 
                    ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

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                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2017

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sue Schooner, 
founder of Girls' Group, for receiving the ATHENA Organizational 
Leadership Award. Sue has leveraged her background in management to 
create a first-class organization that helps girls in need.
  Ms. Schooner founded Girls Group in 2003 to provide support for young 
women to achieve self-sufficiency by becoming first-generation college 
graduates. The group supports approximately 300 middle school through 
college age girls through a variety of programs. These include in-
school programs in participating middle and high schools that promote 
academic and college planning, as well as one-on-one mentoring and 
homework support groups to provide further academic assistance. Girls 
Group also offers College Prep tours to historically black colleges and 
universities as well as other colleges in the Midwest. This 
comprehensive offering has been integral to providing young women with 
access to opportunities and establishing support networks to help them 
succeed academically and professionally.
  The growth and success of Girls Group is a testament to Ms. 
Schooner's hard work and dedication to the organization. Through the 
work of Girls Group staff and volunteers, hundreds of young women have 
been empowered to pursue their dreams. The group has also played a 
pivotal role in helping the girls' emotional and life skills 
development, and the record of success in improving these girls' lives 
speaks to the impact that Girls Group has had. The organization and 
staff continue to inspire, and it is my hope that the organization 
continues to be a positive force in the community in the years ahead.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sue Schooner 
for her work with Girls Group. The group has enabled young women in 
southeast Michigan to achieve their academic and life goals through its 
multifaceted academic and support programs.

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