[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15817]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING SILVA HEALTH MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL'S BLUE RIBBON AWARD FOR 
                        EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 18, 2011

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
achievements of Silva Health Magnet High School. Silva Health was 
recently honored with the 2011 National Blue Ribbon award from the 
United States Department of Education for excellence in education.
  The National Blue Ribbon School award honors both public and private 
elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve at high 
levels and also schools where the achievement gap is narrowing. Since 
1982, approximately 6,500 American schools have received this coveted 
award.
  I want to personally congratulate the teachers, administrators, and 
staff of Silva Health Magnet High School for their commitment and 
dedication to our young students in El Paso. This year only 304 schools 
nationwide received the award, and they will be honored at a ceremony 
in Washington, DC. The Blue Ribbon validates the efforts of these 
schools in creating a positive and effective learning environment. 
These schools and their communities have achieved a degree of 
excellence of which they can justifiably be proud.
  Silva Health Magnet is a fitting example of the type of educational 
curriculum and environment that encourages students to become 
interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering and 
mathematics (STEM). Our nation must provide more opportunities, like 
those at this outstanding school, to encourage our children and youth 
to focus on STEM fields and to help our nation remain competitive in 
the global economy.
  In times of economic uncertainty, we cannot lose sight of the 
paramount importance of our children's education, and I am honored to 
represent Silva Health Magnet High School.

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