[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 99 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E770-E771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 2019 BLACK AND GOLD SCHOLARSHIP BALL AWARD RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2019

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Joyce-Gillespie-
Harrington Educational and Charitable Foundation and the Zeta Upsilon 
Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on the occasion of 
their 39th annual Black and Gold Scholarship Ball.
  The Joyce-Gillespie-Harrington Educational and Charitable Foundation 
was incorporated in 2001 and was formed to provide financial support to 
the educational initiatives developed by the Chapter and Fraternity. It 
increases opportunities for achievement for young African-American men 
and women through scholarships, mentoring, and charitable services. The 
Foundation was named in honor of three community leaders and fraternity 
members, James Burwell Gillespie, Roosevelt Harrington, and Henry Louis 
Joyce who were dedicated to the ideals of ``Scholarship, Community, 
Service and Love for all Mankind.'' Since its inception, the Foundation 
has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to local youth to assist 
them with continuing their education.
  The programs offered by the foundation are vital to the success of 
our students. This year's Black and Gold Scholarship Ball will support 
scholarships for ten college-bound high school students. During the 
last nineteen years, one-hundred students have received scholarships 
awarded by the foundation and have attended some of the top colleges 
and universities in the country. With the typical college graduate's 
debt averaging about $30,000.00, the Foundation's continued support of 
these students is absolutely critical.
  I am pleased to include in the Record the following names of the 2019 
scholarship winners:
  Andrews Boateng--Stone Bridge H.S.; Jacklyn Bostic-Clarke--Broad Run 
H.S.; Ariana Frazier--TC Williams H.S.; Alexander Harvey--Freedom H.S.; 
Kevin M. Jackson--Lake Braddock S.S.; Abigail Jegels--Broad Run H.S.; 
Sydney Jenkins--Briar Woods H.S.; Cameron Miller--Broad Run H.S.; 
Andrew Otchere--Rock Ridge H.S.; Derrick L. Pough, Jr.--Loudoun County 
H.S.; Jonathan G. Williams--Tuscarora H.S.
  Madam Speaker, these students represent our country's next generation 
of gifted leaders who will have great impact on our society and future. 
I thank the Joyce-Gillespie-Harrington Charitable and Education 
Foundation and the Zeta Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha 
Fraternity for their dedicated commitment to fostering success in our 
youth and commend all of the scholarship winners for their academic 
excellence. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating these 
talented students and in wishing them great success in all their future 
endeavors.

[[Page E771]]

  


                   IN HONOR OF G. ROLAND VELA, PH.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2019

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions 
of G. Roland Vela, Ph.D. to the City of Denton and the academic 
community. Dr. Vela is a retired professor at the University of North 
Texas, where he served as one of the first Latino faculty members. At 
UNT, he authored 75 scientific papers and books regarding Texas 
History. This history-maker also blazed trails as the first Hispanic 
member of the Denton City Council and one of the country's first 
Mexican-American Microbiologists. In honor of Dr. Vela's distinguished 
achievements, the City of Denton dedicated the G. Roland Vela Athletic 
Complex on May 26, 2019.
   Dr. Vela was raised in San Antonio, Texas. During World War II, he 
joined the Texas State Guard at age fifteen and convinced his parents 
to sign release papers that would allow him to enlist in the U.S. Navy 
at just seventeen. Though the war concluded before he was assigned to a 
ship, the young Texan dedicated the following year of his life to the 
Navy in peacetime.
   Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Dr. Vela attended 
San Antonio Junior College. After transferring to the University of 
Texas at Austin, he took multiple jobs to support himself before 
graduating with a degree in bacteriology. In 1951, he received a 
scholarship for his master's degree in bacteriology, which he completed 
in just one year, followed by a doctorate in microbiology and 
biochemistry in 1963.
   Dr. Vela later began a 35-year tenure as a professor at the 
University of North Texas in Denton, where he taught undergraduate and 
graduate courses in microbiology. He was chosen to be part of the 
American Academy of Microbiology and was named the Associate Dean of 
Science and Technology in the College of Art and Sciences. During his 
tenure at UNT, Dr. Vela oversaw the research of numerous students and 
mentored 20 doctoral students before retiring in 2000.
   In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Dr. Vela is a 
public servant. He was the first Hispanic member elected to the Denton 
City Council, and has served on the Texas Municipal Power Agency Board 
of Directors as well as numerous boards and commissions.
   The G. Roland Vela Athletic Complex is a fitting tribute to this 
remarkable North Texan. I join Dr. Vela's family, friends, colleagues, 
and students in celebrating this well-deserved honor.

                          ____________________