[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11793-11794]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO ROBERT O. BONNELL, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2005

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
Robert Bonnell, Jr. in recognition of his outstanding work at the 
Educational Opportunities Program (EOP). A resident of Baltimore, 
Maryland, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that Baltimore high school 
students stay in school.
  Robert Bonnell founded the EOP in 1986 with the goal of reducing the 
high school dropout rate in Baltimore. His program assigns a counselor 
to individual high school students starting in the 9th grade. The 
counselor then works with that individual for four years to help them 
overcome obstacles to graduation. In addition, his program encourages 
students to further their education by attending college, enrolling in 
a trade school, or seeking an apprenticeship.

[[Page 11794]]

  Mr. Bonnell's efforts have resulted in a 73% high school graduation 
rate for participants in the program. Sixty percent of EOP students are 
accepted into college after matriculation. Other participants actively 
seek postgraduate employment.
  His commitment to his country did not begin with the EOP. He served 
in the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps from 
1942-1953. He is a successful businessman, philanthropist, and patriot. 
He and his wife Barbara have a large, loving family that includes five 
children, ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
  I urge my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me 
in celebrating the work of Robert Bonnell, Jr. His commitment and 
dedication to educating America's youth has been an inspiration to all 
of us.

                          ____________________