[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 67 (Monday, April 19, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING BERTINE BAHIGE ON BEING NAMED THE 2021 WYOMING NATIONAL 
                        DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LIZ CHENEY

                               of wyoming

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 19, 2021

  Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
Bertine Bahige on being named the 2021 Wyoming National Distinguished 
Principal.
  Bertine was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
until he was kidnapped by the Mai Mai Rebel Group who came to his town 
in eastern DRC looking to abduct new recruits. He escaped after two 
years and spent five years in a refugee camp before being resettled in 
the United States. After he arrived in the United States, he juggled 
three jobs to put himself through community college and never missed a 
class. Bertine did so well in school that he was offered a scholarship 
to study at the University of Wyoming, and after graduating, decided to 
make Wyoming his home and begun looking for ways to give back to his 
community.
  He started his career as a high school teacher in Gillette and is now 
the Principal at Rawhide Elementary school. Bertine has had such an 
impact on his students that many of them come back years later to ask 
him for advice or guidance in their lives. This outstanding 
accomplishment is a true reflection of Bertine's hard work, dedication, 
and commitment to his students. Rawhide Elementary school is lucky to 
have someone who puts students first and values the positive impact 
teachers have on the students they teach.
  I thank Bertine for his dedication to Wyoming students and his 
contributions to education.

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