[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF THE CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY COMMISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2005

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary 
organization based in my community: the California Strawberry 
Commission. Since 1994, the Commission's California Strawberry 
Scholarship Program has awarded numerous students with scholarships to 
show the industry's appreciation to the farm workers whose jobs are a 
vital part of the strawberry industry's success.
  Students receiving a scholarship from the Commission are entering 
their first year in colleges and universities throughout the nation. To 
qualify, applicants must have at least one parent who has been employed 
as a strawberry farm worker for the past two consecutive seasons. The 
California Strawberry Scholarship Program has awarded over $183,000 to 
264 children of strawberry farm workers, giving these students the 
opportunity to achieve their full potential. This year alone, they have 
awarded $32,500 to 34 high school seniors. Each student has tremendous 
potential and these scholarships give them the opportunity to excel as 
first-year students in colleges and universities throughout the nation.
  In addition to the Strawberry Scholarship Program, in 1995 the 
Strawberry Commission implemented the California Strawberry Growers' 
Scholarship Fund. The California Strawberry Growers' Scholarship Fund 
is funded by California strawberry farmers and allied industry members 
to help children of strawberry farm workers to continue their college 
education. To date, the Fund has awarded over $349,000 to 165 students. 
This year 65 continuing college students were awarded a total of 
$68,000 by the California Strawberry Growers' Scholarship Fund.
  Through the hard work of California's strawberry farm workers, 
generous contributions from strawberry industry leaders, and the 
commitment of the California Strawberry Commission, a new generation of 
students is able to achieve its dreams. Mr. Speaker, it is truly an 
honor to recognize the California Strawberry Commission today.

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