[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17249]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING PALO ALTO COLLEGE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Gallego) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Palo Alto College on 
the famed south side of San Antonio. Making a high impact through 
education, Palo Alto College has been meeting the needs of first 
generation college students in the San Antonio area and in the 
surrounding communities.
  In doing so, Palo Alto College prepares students for a 4-year degree 
program or to enter the workforce with the skills and the training 
necessary to strengthen the future of San Antonio, Bexar County, and 
the 23rd District of Texas.
  Palo Alto College was officially chartered by the State of Texas in 
1983. Two years later, in 1985, it began offering its first classes, 
and since then, Palo Alto has quickly grown with the city of San 
Antonio.
  In 1991, because of its deep roots in the Hispanic community and its 
dedication to helping Hispanic families overcome common barriers to 
higher education, Palo Alto College was named a Hispanic-Serving 
Institution by the Federal Government.
  Today, Palo Alto College serves over 8,000 students and offers 95 
relevant academic programs that move the country forward. Programs 
include criminal justice and aviation technology, among many others. It 
also works very closely with employers like Toyota to be sure that its 
students are receiving cutting-edge training. In ensuring the college 
can meet the demands of Texas' energy production, it also offers 
programs in oil and gas technology.
  It is ably led by Dr. Mike Flores who, prior to assuming the 
presidency, had worked his way up through each of the three vice 
president positions at Palo Alto, and he has served the Palo Alto 
community for over 19 years.
  Where others have provided lip service, Palo Alto College has found 
success. With a firm understanding of the promise that our Nation has 
made to its veterans, Palo Alto College is committed to ensuring higher 
education remains accessible to veterans and Active Duty servicemen and 
servicewomen alike.
  Palo Alto College has been listed among the top 20 percent of schools 
that support veteran education. It has an incredible network of people 
and resources available to serve veterans. I thank Palo Alto College 
for the work that they do with our veterans and the Active Duty 
military. It really is very impressive.
  Palo Alto college also plays a fundamental role in the success of 
many individuals in our community, and its impact will be seen for many 
generations. Whether it's providing a second chance to nontraditional 
students through its GED programs or whether it is preparing students 
for the next level of education, Palo Alto College is there. It is 
there to meet the needs of the community and to help families achieve 
prosperity in the American Dream.
  I congratulate Palo Alto College on its upcoming birthday--30 years 
of educational excellence--and I thank them for their continued 
commitment to ensure education remains accessible. Their mission to 
provide relevant and needed educational opportunities is admirable.
  I look forward to seeing the many successes of those who pass through 
the doors of Palo Alto College.

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