[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11962-11963]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING CHRIS NEWTON AND THE PAPPAS SCHOOL FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Chocola). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, today in the heart of Arizona's Fifth 
Congressional District in Tempe, graduation exercises at Arizona State 
University, commencement day, will soon commence. And, Mr. Speaker, I 
would like to bring to the attention of this House the endeavors of one 
who will be recognized and who will don the cap and gown today, even as 
we send congratulations to all who realize academic achievement on this 
day at Arizona State. His name is Chris Newton, and today as he puts on 
his cap and gown, he will take a significant step forward not only for 
himself, but also for the Pappas School for Homeless Children in 
Phoenix.
  Mr. Speaker, Chris Newton spent the bulk of his young life as a 
homeless child. And while many different communities offer many 
different solutions, and, sadly, some here in Washington and others 
move to cut off the notion of schools for homeless children, this 
particular institution in Phoenix has done a lot to help a lot of 
children. But Chris Newton typifies the success.
  Chris Newton was not only the first student from Pappas School for 
the Homeless to go to college, he now becomes the first Pappas student 
to graduate from college. Chris is no stranger to academic excellence, 
even as he dealt with the challenges of homelessness. He was the eighth 
grade valedictorian at Pappas School. He continued his education at 
Camelback High School and then stepped onto the campus at Tempe.
  While debate rages among theoreticians and bureaucrats here in 
Washington as to the relevance of maintaining, or the alleged stigma of 
homeless children congregating and gathering together for education, 
dealing with those challenging needs, Chris offers an affirmation for 
what has worked for him and others in Arizona. He is quoted in the 
Arizona Republic in an article that chronicles the challenges he has 
confronted and the success he has reached: ``School is always there. 
You can always count on it. That is 8 hours a day. Your worries are 
gone. You think about what you are going to do in class, when recess 
is, things you will do with friends after school.''
  Indeed, Mr. Speaker, the Pappas School for Homeless Children in 
Arizona is literally an oasis of stability on the desert for these 
challenged students. It was reaffirmed in the life of Chris Newton, and 
it continues for so many others today.
  We received much information about Chris and his undertakings. 
Ernalee Phelps, who is the director of resources development at the 
Pappas School, spoke glowingly of Mr. Newton. She writes, ``He could 
have blamed the world for his problems or chose another way by turning 
into another generation of homelessness, but through the

[[Page 11963]]

giving of others and the Pappas Scholarship Foundation he was given the 
chance to succeed. Having said that, we recognize that to receive a 
scholarship is one thing, but to honor it and treasure it is another. 
He had to follow through with attending and keeping up with the 
classes. He could have given up at any time but he didn't. Sometimes 
society makes it easier for individuals who have already struggled with 
homelessness to fail.'' The sad fact is some will fail, but ``Chris 
knew that it takes determination to succeed.''
  Mrs. Phelps continues, ``I have had the honor to know this young man 
for 7 years now. Chris never gave up, got angry, blamed anyone or asked 
me for a handout. He is always friendly, courteous and respectful. If 
Chris were my own son, I could not be more proud of him.''
  Chris says, quoting Mr. Newton now, ``I tell kids you have to be 
open-minded. There are always obstacles, but do not let them stop you. 
I know people have set high expectations for me, and I never wanted to 
disappoint them.''
  Mr. Speaker, Chris Newton is not disappointing. He is achieving. 
Congratulations to Chris Newton, today a graduate of Arizona State 
University and an alumnus of the Pappas School for Homeless Children.

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