[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6245]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO STEVE LUKENS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Steve Lukens, 
Assistant Principal at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School in Jackson, 
Missouri. Recently, Mr. Lukens announced his retirement after 31 years 
of distinguished service in Missouri's Public Schools.
  Mr. Lukens was born on June 23, 1947, to Harry and Ella Lukens in St. 
Louis, Missouri. Upon graduation from high school he joined the U.S. 
Navy and served as an air traffic controller from 1967 until 1972. 
After his honorable discharge, Mr. Lukens pursued a degree in education 
from Southeast Missouri State University, which is also where he met 
his future wife, Ellen. Upon graduation from the Southeast Missouri 
State, he commenced what would be a long and laudable career in 
education.
  Mr. Lukens has dedicated his life to public education over the past 
31 years. He embarked on his teaching career in the Cape Girardeau, 
Missouri, public school system, where he served as a language arts 
teacher for 21 years. Throughout his time in the Cape Girardeau Public 
Schools, he served in several capacities for many extracurricular 
activities, including sponsor of the Red Dagger Club and set director 
for theatric productions. In order to play an active role in the lives 
of even more students, Mr. Lukens pursued a position in school 
administration.
  In 1996, Mr. Lukens accepted a position as Assistant Principal at 
R.O. Hawkins Junior High School and has served the school in this 
capacity for the past ten years. During his tenure, Mr. Lukens has 
overseen several massive construction projects to the school, a growing 
student population, and the everyday challenges associated with the 
instruction of adolescents. As the faces change every year in the halls 
of R.O. Hawkins Junior High, Mr. Lukens' dedication to education and 
cultivating the leaders of tomorrow remains a constant. To the students 
of R.O. Hawkins Junior High, Mr. Lukens is more than just a school 
administrator, he is a friend and mentor.
  Although Mr. Lukens has led an exemplary career in education, it 
would not have been possible without the love and support of his 
family. Mr. Lukens' wonderful wife, Ellen, and two loving children, 
Jennie and Laura, undoubtedly enhanced his ability to change the lives 
of area youth. As I commend Mr. Lukens, I also recognize the efforts of 
his family to further his career. I once again congratulate Mr. Lukens 
on a successful career in education and wish him well in all his future 
endeavors.

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