[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E33]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 IOWAN OF THE WEEK--CHRISTIAN VANDEHAAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 14, 2020

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing Iowa's Bondurant-Farrar High 
School's art teacher Christian Vandehaar for his hard work in his 
community and his continued contributions to his students' success.
   Mr. Vandehaar is a true public servant. He has been teaching 9th 
through 12th grade art classes at Bondurant-Farrar High School for nine 
years. Mr. Vandehaar received his Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Iowa 
State University and his master's from Drake University. He decided to 
become an art teacher because he enjoys helping others and seeing them 
reach their full potential.
   With help from Mr. Vandehaar's passion for the arts, Bondurant-
Farrar High School has been recognized as one of Iowa's top three All-
State Art Schools, with his school earning the number one overall spot 
in 2018. Students from Mr. Vandehaar's art classes have had success at 
state and national competitions, including the Congressional Art 
Competition. Under Mr. Vandehaar, art students from Bondurant-Farrar 
High School have been selected for the Congressional Art Competition 
for five of the past six years. 12 of his students have even earned 
All-State honors within the last four years. The accolades continue 
with three Gold and Silver medals in the National Scholastic 
Competition, two Grant Wood Legacy Prize Awards, and a National 
Scholastic American Vision Medal.
   Outside of the classroom, Mr. Vandehaar and his students have worked 
with the Bondurant Community Foundation to create a 100-foot mural 
along an area bike path. However, Mr. Vandehaar's proudest 
accomplishment is his Art Canned Food Drive, which challenges classes 
to donate the most canned items for their Combat Hunger week. Through 
his initiative, students have donated over 15,000 items in the last 
seven years.
   It is an honor to commemorate Mr. Vandehaar's outstanding 
achievements in his school and his community. I have great respect and 
admiration for our educators and am particularly thankful for the 
strong foundation they are giving our kids. As the mother of two boys, 
I know that a quality education is crucial to success. Mr. Vandehaar is 
not only helping his students succeed in the arts, but teaching them 
actively engage with their community.
   I applaud Mr. Vandehaar for his hard work and dedication, and I 
congratulate him and his students for their success.

                          ____________________