[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6775-S6776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO PATRICK COLLINS
Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, I recognize Patrick Collins, a pillar of
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, FL, for his 50-year
commitment to the edification of thousands of young men in the
community. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Collins served as a teacher,
chair of the social studies department, founder and moderator of Close
Up and Founding of a Nation, tennis coach, and cofounder of the
overseas study program.
Mr. Collins' decades of service shaped numerous generations of
students and are evidenced by his students' testimonies. From his
students, one can learn how Mr. Collins complemented their civic
education with the values of citizenship, patriotism, responsibility,
and leadership. Ultimately, his passion and love for his country has
created a legacy that has positively impacted the Miami community,
State of Florida, and country at large through the moral compass that
he worked to instill in every single one of his students.
I admire Mr. Collins' virtuous character and am grateful for the
fruit of his work. I look forward to continuing to learn of the impact
that his students have on our communities and know that he serves as an
exceptional example to educators across the country.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an article from the Miami
Herald dated September 23, 2021, about Patrick Collins be printed in
the Record.
The material follows:
For 50 Years, Belen Educator Has Given Flight to Students' Passion to
Serve
(By Rafael A. Yaniz)
Patrick Collins, a beloved and influential educator at
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, will be honored on Sept. 25.
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
``Before you stand up, you must know the first word that is
coming out of your mouth.'' This was the first piece of
advice that Patrick Collins--Belen Jesuit Preparatory
School's social studies department chair and 11th-grade U.S.
government teacher--gave me.
Decades later, I think of his advice whenever I am about to
speak in any formal setting.
And I am not alone in remembering him and his guidance, for
which, after five decades, he will be honored at Belen on
Saturday, and most deservedly so.
``All prayers in the world can be condensed into two
words,'' he told me. ``Thank you''
``I've tried to instill in students a sense of gratitude to
say Thank you, when they walk through Arlington National
Cemetery, through the halls of Congress, through their
cities, to find a niche in their lives to do something that
benefits another citizen. That way, we can continue on to the
betterment of ourselves and our country.''
Collins' career has had a lifelong impact on generations of
Belen Jesuit students during the course of his 50 years at
Miami's storied all-male prep school, who have applied his
lessons to make our community and our country better.
``In my era, we were rambunctious,'' said Jose Cil, CEO of
Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger
King, ``but he set a really high bar and drove us to excel--
even if you weren't an excellent student.''
Collins' passion for teaching beyond the textbook inspired
him to succeed.
Former U.S. Congressman Joe Garcia agreed. ``Mr. Collins'
addition to Jesuit pedagogy is the insight that being a `man
for others' requires you to engage in the broader society
without cynicism--without hatred--but always with an openness
to engage in critical thought,'' Garcia said. ``In the ideal
republic, he is the ideal citizen.''
Carlos Trujillo, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization
of American States, said, ``The impact Mr. Collins has had as
a U.S. government teacher producing government servants, very
few teachers across the country have had that kind of impact
in their careers.''
``To this day, I still apply the lessons I learned from
Coach Collins inside and outside of the classroom,'' said
Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal News Group, who played
tennis under Collins' coaching.
``I first began to understand the importance of a free
press and the role of great journalism in our democracy while
studying in his government classes. And, during a Close Up
Foundation trip to Washington, D.C. that he led, I was
directly exposed to the federal government, which inspired me
to apply to the White House Fellows Program years later.''
Conde subsequently served under then-Secretary of State Colin
Powell.
``He taught me to dream big and then work hard to achieve
those ambitions,'' explained Mr. Conde.
Eddy Acevedo, chief of staff and senior advisor to the CEO
of the Wilson Center, astutely observed, ``Anyone who grows
up in Miami thinks about getting involved in politics, in
government, in public service.''
Former U.S. Congressman Carlos Curbelo was one of those
students with an innate desire to serve.
``He provided us with a thorough understanding of what
government is and how it works, the way the system is
designed to impede the passage of legislation, and what
people have to do to overcome those challenges.''
[[Page S6776]]
Garcia, who lost to Curbelo, added, ``Mr. Collins teaches a
realistic understanding of the political process, but he
provides the inspiration to make working through that
difficult process an act of service for society's most
vulnerable members.''
That sentiment was not lost on Manny Diaz, chair of the
Florida Democratic Party.
``Mr. Collins asked us on the first day of class if we knew
what our rights were if we found ourselves on a country road
in Alabama and a big sheriff arrested us because we looked
Hispanic. I wanted to know the answer to his question.''
Collins' influence led Javi Correoso, Uber's public affairs
senior manager, to pursue his passions.
``He instills in you that the meaning and purpose of public
service is not the shining moments like running for office or
photo ops, it's about rolling up your sleeves and helping
citizens get a response from their government,'' Correoso
said.
He also credits Collins for connecting him with former U.S.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. ``It was the middle of football
season, and I needed the 10 points extra credit wiggle room
in my grade that semester.'' He was able to snag those extra
credits by volunteering in her campaign office.
``I couldn't tell you what political party he belongs to,''
Ros-Lehtinen said of Collins, ``but he belongs to the
fellowship of man. We need to clone him. He's always been a
voice of reason and commonsense in my life.''
Collins is clear about what drives him: ``I'm influenced by
the experience of my great grandfather. He was an Irish
immigrant who struggled, through perseverance and grace, he
was able to succeed,'' he said. ``I'm a beneficiary of that
generation of Irish Americans who feels it would be selfish
to solely benefit from the opportunities in this country. I
feel like I owe it to him and to my family that the notion of
civic responsibility continues to those I have met through
the Cuban immigration experience that is Belen Jesuit.''
Rafael A. Yaniz is a Belen Alumnus and an attorney and
political analyst based in Miami.
Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/
article254479452.html#storylink=cpy
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