[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11442-11443]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  A TRIBUTE TO DR. DENISE DAVIS-COTTON

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Dr. 
Denise Davis-Cotton, who will be honored this morning during the 
Millennium Commencement Ceremony at Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall. 
Dr. Davis-Cotton is being honored for her many contributions to the 
Detroit Public School System. In particular, she will be honored for 
her role as the founding principal of the Detroit High School for the 
Fine and Performing Arts, and for the work she has done in this 
capacity.
  In founding the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, 
which opened its doors to students in the fall of 1992, Dr. Davis-
Cotton established a unique center for learning: a small inner city 
public school dedicated primarily to the study of the arts. She 
designed the school curriculum, developed its program components, and 
wrote the philosophy and mission statement for the school, all of which 
are based upon a strong commitment to the study of the arts.
  After an initial application process, students are asked to audition 
in one of the following areas: instrumental music, vocal music, speech 
and theater, dance or visual arts. Only after this audition are 
students accepted to the school. Upon acceptance, students partake in a 
rigorous college preparatory curriculum, along with an intensive study 
in their selected art field.
  The results of this demanding program have been resoundingly 
successful. 100 percent of the first graduating class received 
acceptance to college; the school holds a 97 percent student retention 
rate; a 95 percent student attendance rate; and the Class of 2000 had 
an overall grade point average of 3.08. Mr. President, the 107 students 
who comprised the Class of 1998 were awarded seven and a half million 
dollars in scholarships and grants for higher education. The school has 
had national champions in Academic Games and the Tri-Math-A-Lon, and 
its Forensics Team has won the Michigan State Championship four 
consecutive years.
  Another important aspect of the Detroit High School for the Fine and 
Performing Arts is the unique relationship the school has formed with 
the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Through this partnership, students have 
been given the opportunity to work with jazz greats Brandford Marsalis 
and Frank Foster; award winning composer Alvin Singleton; Detroit 
Symphony Orchestra Music Director Neeme Jarvi; and Detroit Symphony 
Orchestra Assistant Conductor Ya-Hui-Wang. In addition to instrumental 
students studying privately with members of the Detroit Symphony 
Orchestra, an annual joint concert is presented featuring Detroit High 
School for the Fine and Performing Arts and Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
  This partnership was taken to an even higher level in 1996. With 
financial assistance from the Detroit Medical Center, an $80 million 
dollar project was undertaken, to be called Orchestra Place. Orchestra 
Place, when completed, will be an office, retail, education and arts 
complex centered around the historic home of the Detroit Symphony, 
Orchestra Hall. It will also include the new home of the Detroit High 
School for the Fine and Performing Arts. It is expected to be an 
important regional performing arts complex, which will offer 
professional and student performances in the world class Orchestra 
Hall.

[[Page 11443]]

  Mr. President, all of these many accomplishments would not have been 
possible were it not for the many efforts and the incredible vision of 
Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton. Not only has she provided the youth of Detroit 
with an entirely new opportunity in education, she has also provided 
the nation with a blueprint for success in inner city public education. 
On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate Dr. Davis-
Cotton on her many contributions to the State of Michigan, and wish her 
continued success in the future.

                          ____________________