[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15561]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF MARY WEST

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN T. SALAZAR

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 11, 2005

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mary West, 
the 2005 recipient of the Disney Teacher award. Ms. West is a special 
needs high school teacher in Montrose, Colorado. In this capacity, she 
teaches students what they need to know to function in their community. 
Working with students as old as 21, she is often times the last teacher 
these students will have before they enter the adult world.
  It is an honor and a privilege to have a teacher of Mary West's 
caliber in my district. Ms. West's dedication exemplifies the kind of 
steadfast determination and drive I grew up with in Colorado. As one of 
only 45 winners selected out of more than 50,000 nominees, Ms. West, 
and her school, will receive upwards of $15,000 from the Walt Disney 
Company for use in maintaining this high quality of education at 
Montrose High School.
  Education is about the future, about making our dreams for a better 
tomorrow a reality. Family values, a good education, these are the 
foundation on which that future ought to rest. What more could we 
possibly want for our children than the opportunity to see their 
dreams, large or small, come true. More than simply watching our 
children succeed though, this foundation allows us to take pride in 
knowing that their success is not due to luck, but rather to their own 
ability to make something of themselves.
  We therefore have a responsibility to ensure our children enter that 
future with the best education possible. Teachers, like Mary West, are 
putting these seemingly incredible dreams within reach. So, it is my 
hope that you will join with me in congratulating Ms. West on her 
accomplishments. With the help of Ms. West and other dedicated teachers 
throughout Colorado, I feel confident that today's youth will be 
prepared to accept the challenges and the possibilities of tomorrow.

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