[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11131]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL UPON ITS 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 1, 2004

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to pay tribute to Annandale High School as it prepares to 
celebrate its 50th anniversary.
  Since its establishment in 1954 when President Eisenhower's ``Atoms 
for Education'' program lent its name to the school's mascot, the 
Annandale Atoms, Annandale High School has committed itself to lofty 
standards of academic and extracurricular excellence. Over the years, 
as the Annandale area has expanded and diversified, Annandale High 
School has followed the community's example. The school boasts such a 
great diversity that it recently received national attention. During 
his second term, President Clinton publicly recognized Annandale as a 
``model school for diversity'', commenting on the fact that Annandale's 
student body represents over 80 countries and more than 40 native 
languages.
  To this day, Annandale High School remains a distinguished and 
greatly lauded school in all aspects from sports to the arts to 
academics. Annandale High School has won six state football 
championships and many other state-level recognitions. In addition, the 
band program, accompanied by the choral department, has won multiple 
awards in national competition and has performed in concerts at the 
Kennedy Center. This summer, a select choir will participate in the 
second part of an international exchange program with Germany. 
Furthermore, Annandale High School has taken the initiative to pioneer 
the International Baccalaureate program within the Fairfax County 
Public School System. This program, which allows students to take 
accelerated, honors courses that count towards an internationally 
recognized diploma, is one that other schools throughout the county 
remain reluctant to adopt due to its rigorous nature.
  Annandale High School plays an instrumental role in shaping its 
students into kind, considerate, and generous individuals devoted to 
helping others and improving their community. Most recently, three 
sisters, all students at Annandale, founded Wash America, a car wash 
initiative designed to provide financial support to families of the 
victims of the September 11th attacks.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank Annandale High School 
faculty and staff for the immeasurable contributions that they have 
made to the community by shaping today's youth and tomorrow's future. I 
congratulate the High School on its successes over the last 50 years 
and I wish it more successful years in the future. I ask that my 
colleagues join me in applauding this outstanding and distinguished 
institution.

                          ____________________