[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5390]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MADONNA HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 1999

  Mr. BLAGOJEVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
achievements of a very special school located on the Northwest Side of 
Chicago: Madonna High School. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Madonna High School as it celebrates on March 25 fifty 
outstanding years in the education of young women.
  Since 1949, Madonna High School has been working diligently to shape 
the minds of young women and create the leaders of tomorrow. Founded by 
the Franciscan Sisters at the St. Vincent Orphanage of Chicago, the 
school began with just three students and consisted of only four rooms. 
Today, after five decades of outstanding dedication and service to the 
communities of the City's Northwest Side, Madonna High School has 
become a nationally recognized institution with an enrollment over 300 
students.
  In fact, Madonna High School's commitment to excellence in education 
has won the recognition of numerous institutions. In 1987, they 
received a ``For Character Award'' from the University of Illinois-
Chicago for building and reinforcing self-esteem in young women. In 
1991, the school was honored by the U.S. Department of Education as 
``Recognized School of Excellence.'' Three years later, the Horatio 
Alger Association for Distinguished Americans recognized Madonna High 
School by awarding a scholarship to one of its outstanding students.
  Mr. Speaker, Madonna High School has enriched the minds of its 
students, challenged their imaginations, and given generations of young 
women the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Theirs is a 
record of which we all can be proud. I ask my colleagues to join me 
today in wishing Madonna High School a wonderful 50th Anniversary and 
in extending our best wishes as it begins a new era of excellence in 
education for the young women of Chicago.