[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE AWARDEES OF THE ENGLISH EMPOWERMENT CENTER'S 64TH 
                          RECOGNITION CEREMONY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JAMES R. WALKINSHAW

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 2026

  Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the English 
Empowerment Center (EEC) and to honor the volunteers, instructors, 
students, community partners, and others who will be recognized at the 
64th EEC Recognition Ceremony.
  The mission of EEC is to teach adults the basic skills of reading, 
writing, speaking, and understanding English in order to empower them 
to participate more fully and confidently in their communities and in 
society as a whole. EEC serves low-literacy and limited English 
language proficient adults with a selection of low-cost, moderately 
intensive courses to help them transition into the workforce or other 
educational opportunities.
  EEC provides the crucial first steps of language and literacy 
proficiency for workplace, citizenship, and community integration to 
help adults make measurable improvements in their lives. This past 
year, they have served over 2,000 adult learners with the help of over 
600 volunteers who gave over 27,000 hours of service.
  Each year EEC recognizes students and members of the community who 
have contributed their time, energy, and resources to achieving the 
mission of EEC. EEC will also award the prestigious Patricia M. 
Donnelly Merit Scholarship, and the inaugural Gerry E. Connolly 
Empowerment Award. I include in the Record the following names of the 
2026 EEC honorees:

       Community Partners: Amazon; Bailey's Crossroads/Culmore 
     Place-Based Initiative; Dulmore United Methodist Church.
       Volunteers of the Year: Chris Axarlis; Mary Pat Paris; 
     Marie Tibor.
       Student Speakers: Henry Herrera; Fatima Pena.
       Patricia M. Donnelly Merit Scholarship Recipient: Patricia 
     Ramirez Sejas.
       Gerry E. Connolly Empowerment Award: John V. Thomas.

  Also, I include in the Record the names of the volunteers who are 
celebrating service anniversaries with EEC.

       Volunteer Service Anniversaries:
       25 years: Jan Auerbach, and Susan Stillman.
       20 years: Nancy Newman, and Naomi Witherspoon.
       15 years: Banhi Bhattacharya, Michael Boito, and Janna 
     Unterzuber.
       10 years: Christopher Axarlis, Janet Barsy, Paul Cantrell, 
     Elena Gonzalez, Diane Jensen, William Nye, Susan Rose, Karen 
     Rosenthal, Jean Samuel, Sharon Steen, and Gail Zimmerman.
       5 years: Brian Brooks, Debby Chrisensen, Robin DeRosa, Leo 
     Dillon, Lisa Esler, Teresa Fralish, Alan Kadrofske, Jill 
     Martin, Mary Anne McDonald, Megann Mielke, Alana Morton, Emma 
     Refuerzo, Elizabeth Stone, CK Tong, and Sari Warren.

  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the English 
Empowerment Center and in thanking and congratulating each of the 
honorees of the 64th EEC Recognition Ceremony. I wish all of them great 
success in their future endeavors.

                          ____________________