[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17587]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATING TEACHER OF THE YEAR, ART ALMQUIST

  (Mr. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tucson High 
Magnet School's teacher, Art Almquist, as being named Teacher of the 
Year by People Magazine.
  For the past 17 years, Mr. Almquist has been Tucson Magnet's drama 
teacher. He has built a phenomenal theater program rarely seen on any 
high school level. His programs and plays have won numerous awards from 
universities, as well as regularly being named one of the best high 
school theaters in America by the American High School Theater 
Festival.
  Mr. Almquist is known for staging productions on topics such as AIDS, 
environmental activism, and immigration. He believes the theater offers 
each student an opportunity to learn new skills and enhance his skills.
  As an educator, he has influenced thousands of students to pursue a 
career that both challenges them, but also brings them joy.
  I give my most sincere thanks and congratulations to Mr. Art Almquist 
for representing Tucson as a leader in the field of education. Mr. 
Almquist exemplifies how a role model can affect change and educate the 
next generation.

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