[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 137 (Tuesday, August 20, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1062-E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING DR. WILLARD LEWALLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 20, 2019

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the retiring 
Superintendent-President of Hartnell Community College District, Dr. 
Willard Lewallen, for his career in higher education and commitment to 
serving the people of the central coast of California. His leadership 
has touched the lives of many, and I am honored to acknowledge his 
legacy today in the House of Representatives.
  Throughout his seven years in his role as Superintendent-President, 
Dr. Lewallen has remained committed to a philosophy of ``students 
first.'' He has set an inspiring example for Hartnell College employees 
and its supporters, leading initiatives and partnerships that have 
yielded tremendous success and strengthened Hartnell and the entire 
Salinas Valley. The continual growth and development of the college 
itself is due in large part to Dr. Lewallen's investment of time and 
expertise into improvement of campus programs and facilities. Dr. 
Lewallen's record of service to Hartnell and the Salinas Valley has 
certainly left a lasting impact on the City of Salinas and the Monterey 
Peninsula.
  Student success has been a priority of Dr. Lewallen throughout his 
time at Hartnell and is reflected by an overwhelming increase in 
completion of degrees and certificates. The number of students pursuing 
four-year degrees has also risen during Dr. Lewallen's tenure, 
preparing these students to transfer to the California State University 
and University of California systems to complete their degrees.
  Dr. Lewallen has left an indelible mark on the central coast with 
Hartnell's recently developed partnerships with California State 
University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare 
System. Dr. Lewallen helped initiate programs like the CSin3 program, 
which allows students to complete a B.S. in computer science in three 
years, and the Teacher Transfer Pathway program, which enables students 
to begin at Hartnell and continue seamlessly at CSUMB and earn a 
teaching certificate within five years.
  Growth and development have been remarkable under the leadership of 
Dr. Lewallen

[[Page E1063]]

and has impacted faculty and staff in constructive ways. The steady 
increase in the number of employees and full-time faculty and has been 
paired with substantial investments made in future construction sites 
within the Hartnell College system. Dr. Lewallen has helped to secure 
funding for the construction of new Hartnell education outreach centers 
in Soledad and Castroville, a state-of-the-art nursing and health 
sciences building on the Main Campus in Salinas. He has also overseen 
efforts to refurbish classroom buildings on the Main Campus and the 
transformation of the Central Plaza.
  As Dr. Lewallen celebrates his retirement, I am proud to commend him 
on his invaluable work as a higher education leader. On behalf of 
residents across the Central Coast, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
thanking Dr. Willard Lewallen for his service and wishing him a long 
and healthy retirement.

                          ____________________