[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6706]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO LILIAN KAWARATANI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 19, 2007

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Lilian 
Kawaratani, of Monterey Park, California. Each year in March, in 
recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the 
contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women.
  Lilian was born in Honolulu, Hawaii where she was raised. She 
enrolled at the University of Hawaii. After completing the Fifth Year 
Program for Teachers, Lilian left Hawaii for New York where she 
attended Columbia University Teachers College and received her M.A. in 
Education. In 1980, Mrs. Kawaratani received her Adult Education 
Designated Subjects Credential from the University of California State 
College.
  Mrs. Kawaratani began her career teaching at Barber's Point 
Elementary School in Hawaii. Upon graduation from Columbia Teacher's 
College, Lilian moved to Monterey Park and began teaching at Euclid 
Ave. Elementary School in East Los Angeles. After taking time off to 
raise her children, Lilian returned to teaching for the Alhambra School 
District's Adult Education ESL program until she retired in 1999.
  Lilian has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service. 
Lilian was a Board Member and Coordinator for the United Methodist Pre-
School's Mother Helpers Program. She has held various positions for the 
PTA, served on the GATE Advisory Board, and volunteered as a Brownie 
and Girl Scout Leader. Mrs. Kawaratani has also held various offices at 
the California Council of Adult Education, where in 1988 she was 
awarded the CALCO Award for Excellence in Teaching. Lilian also serves 
as the Membership Chair for the Friends of Monterey Park Library Board.
  Most notably, Lilian is admired for her volunteer work with the 
Monterey Park Library's LAMP (Literacy for All of Monterey Park) 
Citizenship Classes. Following her retirement, Lilian was invited to 
help teach Citizenship Classes for the library for two hours per week. 
Lilian's passion for teaching was made apparent as she spent up to 
eight hours a day at the library and often met one-on-one with adult 
learners to further prepare them for their citizenship tests and 
interviews. Her efforts have directly helped 50 to 100 students 
annually become proud new American citizens. As Lilian enters her 
eighth year of teaching for LAMP, she has seen over 700 students attain 
U.S. Citizenship and has devoted thousands of hours of service.
  In addition to her many professional and personal accomplishments, 
Mrs. Kawaratani is a wife and mother of four children and enjoys 
spending time with her grandchildren.
  Mrs. Kawaratani's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment 
to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us 
all. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an 
extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Lilian 
Kawaratani.

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