[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 53 (Thursday, March 24, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E296-E297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF HARINI KRISHNAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 24, 2022

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Harini Krishnan 
who is being honored as the 2020 Hillsborough Schools' Citizen of the 
Year. Every year, the Associated Parents' Group of Hillsborough selects 
an individual who has made sustained and significant contributions to 
the Hillsborough community, especially to education and to the well-
being of children. I couldn't think of a more deserving recipient than 
my friend Harini Krishnan. I have known her for many years and seen 
first-hand her tireless advocacy for others. With a big smile on her 
face, she takes on problems she identifies and any task handed to her. 
If you want to get something done, ask Harini.
  Somehow, she finds enough hours in the day to serve a long list of 
organizations. In addition to being a parent volunteer for the 
Hillsborough City School District, she was the Parent Group President 
at West School and Crocker School, served on the board of the 
Associated Parents' Group, was the Community Campaign Co-Chair for the 
Hillsborough Schools Foundation, co-chaired the Hillsborough Family Fun 
Day Carnival, and continues to be the Neighborhood Lead for the 
Hillsborough Neighborhood Network. Harini is a champion for public 
schools and has also taken a leadership role in the San Mateo High 
School parent community. She has served as the Co-President of the 
Foundation Board for five years, is the Mock Trial Parent Liaison, and 
is a member of Music, Drama and Dance Boosters.
  A resident of Hillsborough for 20 years, Harini is a true global 
citizen and applies her spirit and empathy to anything she does. She is 
an acclaimed Indian classical vocalist and lecturer. At Crocker, she 
taught a class on Indian history, culture and arts and she hosted 
Hillsborough Schools Foundation Pay-to-Play parties at her home where 
she taught people how to cook traditional Indian food and adorn saris. 
Her goal is not only to make people knowledgeable about Indian culture, 
but to inspire them to be global citizens and lifelong

[[Page E297]]

learners. She believes that the best way for our children to have 
empathy and to be people of good character is by walking in other 
people's shoes and by exploring the world beyond their backyards.
  Harini also was instrumental in organizing the now annual trips for 
Crocker's 8th graders to Washington, D.C. It's a great opportunity for 
the students to learn about congressional history and to see democracy 
in action.
  Additionally, Harini applies her love for the arts to her work as 
vice chair of the San Mateo County Arts Commission and on the 2020 
California Arts Council State Local Partners Grant Panel. She is a 
champion for social justice and gender equality and serves on the 
boards of Equal Access International and FUND HER. In her never-ending 
pursuit of growing and learning, she is currently enrolled in a program 
in public leadership at Harvard Kennedy School. As you can surmise from 
this long list of public service and engagement, Harini is an exemplary 
community leader.
  She is also a devoted wife and mother. She and her husband, Vika Jha, 
a startup entrepreneur, have raised two remarkable children, Janani and 
Abhaya, who are college students pursuing their own dreams. They are 
talented and extraordinarily gifted. I have been in awe of their 
accomplishments.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Harini 
Krishnan for her countless contributions to our community and for her 
determination to recruit more global citizens to make the world a 
better place.

                          ____________________