[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 16 (Monday, January 29, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E87-E88]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING ARVIN HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 29, 2024

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Arvin High School 
on their 75th anniversary and thank them for their significant 
contributions to the Arvin community. Arvin High School began serving 
students in the rural communities of Arvin, Lamont, and Weedpatch in 
1949 as part of the Kern High School District. Since their founding, 
Arvin High School has been committed to serving their students through 
a diverse array of educational programs, extracurricular activities, 
and college-level courses. Today, the school's student body is made up 
of nearly 3,000 students. The mission of Arvin High School is to 
encourage P.R.I.D.E--participation, responsibility, integrity, 
determination, and empathy, and to provide students with the skills 
they need to succeed in their futures. Under the leadership of 
Principal Ed Watts, Arvin High School has received full accreditation 
through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, recognizing 
their dedication to high-quality education and school improvement. 
Through their Career Technical Education program, students at Arvin 
High School have the unique opportunity to gain experience in the 
career path of their choice. In these twelve pathways offerings, 
students learn how to succeed in numerous fields including health 
sciences, building and construction, agriculture, and engineering. The 
CTE program also includes a ROTC pathway, providing students who are 
interested in serving in the armed forces with the experience they need 
to thrive after they leave Arvin High School. The staff and faculty at 
Arvin High School are committed to the educational outcomes of every 
student. In 2023, 89 students were recipients of a California 
Scholarship Federation membership, which is awarded to students who 
demonstrate a high-level of academic achievement. The class of 2023 
also received nearly 200 Biliteracy Seals and Golden State Seal of 
Merit awards, and 16 National Honor Society recognitions. This school 
year, in partnership with Bakersfield College, Arvin High School is 
offering almost 70 sections of Dual Enrollment course offerings--giving 
students a chance to earn college credits before they even graduate

[[Page E88]]

high school. In just the past three years alone, Arvin High School has 
helped 25 students receive their Associate of Arts for Transfer degree 
in Communication Studies through this initiative. In honor of their 
work to provide students with dual enrollment opportunities, Arvin High 
School was one of nine schools recognized as an Exemplary Dual 
Enrollment School by the California Department of Education in 2023. 
Arvin High School has been nationally recognized for their academic 
extracurriculars, including Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial, and the 
``We the People'' Constitution Team, which was started by former 
teacher Larry Hallum in 1987. Mr. Hallum was one of the many teachers 
at Arvin High School who has received accolades for his dedication to 
his students. To celebrate the legacy of Mr. Hallum, the Kern High 
School District created the ``Spirit of Arvin High School'' Memorial 
Scholarship to support future college students in the district. It is 
because of the commitment of teachers at Arvin High School like Mr. 
Hallum that students in the Central Valley community flourish, and I 
want to thank all the faculty and staff at Arvin High School for 
creating a learning environment that helps our youth become the best 
they can be.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the U.S. House of 
Representatives to join me in celebrating Arvin High School on their 
75th anniversary. Their work to enrich the lives of students in the 
community of Arvin will be felt for generations to come.

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