[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6256]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL 
                               AT BEIRUT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Centennial 
Anniversary of the American Community School at Beirut.
  The American Community School was founded in 1905 as the Faculty 
School by a group of American missionary families living in Lebanon. 
The school was supported by the American University of Beirut, the 
American Presbyterian Mission and Aramco. It was the first American K-
12 school in Lebanon and is an independent, non-profit, co-educational 
school chartered in the state of New York. Today, the school's 
enrollment exceeds 1,000 and the school is an ambassador of American 
education to the Middle East.
  The American Community School's student population has changed over 
the years and is now composed of a diverse community made up of 
students from American, Lebanese and international families. The school 
offers numerous activities to supplement the education of its students. 
Alumni of the school have gone on to do great things, with many of them 
excelling in careers serving the United States government and Lebanese-
American relations.
  I would like to commend the American Community School's leadership 
for their innovative vision in implementing and carrying out the 
school's mission of providing quality American-style education. The 
school's teachers should be recognized for their consistent dedication 
and for inspiring their students to pursue a well-rounded, life-long 
education. Finally, past and present students of the school should be 
applauded for their success in such an independent, challenging 
environment.
  The school is appreciative of the support of the United States 
Congress. America's direct support of this and other educational 
institutions in the Middle East plays an important role in our public 
diplomacy efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to pay tribute to the American Community 
School at Beirut in this year of its Centennial Anniversary. I 
congratulate the school on its distinguished history and look forward 
to its promising future.

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