[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8377]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING HIGHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. NANCY E. BOYDA

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2008

  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Highland Community College on 150 years of educating the good people of 
the state of Kansas. Chartered in 1858, Highland Community College was 
the first college in Kansas, and it has overcome many adversities to 
remain prosperous and respected to this day. Highland Community College 
offers a wonderful and necessary service to students who are trying to 
make more out of their lives.
  Community colleges play an important and distinctive role in the 
American education system--they provide a world class education that is 
affordable and provides flexibility. Highland Community College 
facilitates programs for many non-traditional students all over the 
state of Kansas through its outreach program. It offers many night and 
weekend classes to those students whose lives can not be built around 
the typical student's schedule. A degree from Highland Community 
College will take any student far in life, and for some, it will be the 
push they needed to pursue additional degrees.
  In Kansas, we believe that college should open doors, not close them, 
and that education should create opportunities, not debt. Sadly, 
instead of graduating with hope for their future, many of today's 
college students graduate with loan payments as far as the eye can see. 
In an increasingly competitive society, higher education is a 
necessity. Paying for and completing a higher education degree must be 
a realistic possibility for everyone. The great community colleges in 
Kansas, in particular Highland Community College, make that a reality 
for many students.
  Highland Community College has made a commitment to providing a low-
cost, high-value education. With their leadership, we'll move closer to 
the day when every Kansas student who wants to attend college can 
afford to do so and can receive a high quality education that fits 
their needs as an individual.
  Highland Community College has served the State of Kansas and served 
it well. These words are a mere token of gratitude and cannot begin to 
repay the debt that we as Kansans owe members of the Highland 
community. Today, I congratulate Highland Community College on 150 
years of success.

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