[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8020]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING DR. JUDY BONNER AND HER COMMITMENT TO ALABAMA GIRLS STATE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRADLEY BYRNE

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 1, 2015

  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Judy Bonner, 
President of the University of Alabama, for her leadership and 
commitment to the Alabama Girls State program. Throughout her career, 
Dr. Bonner has encouraged young women to set high goals and never give 
up on their dreams.
  As a child, her father would cut out articles from newspapers about 
impressive achievements by women around the world. So from an early 
age, Dr. Bonner learned to dream beyond the confines of her charming 
hometown of Camden, Alabama.
  In 1964, Dr. Bonner was selected by her school to attend Girls State, 
which was held at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. There she made many 
friends and learned a great deal about how our state and local 
governments work. While many things inspired Dr. Bonner over the years, 
Alabama Girls State certainly made a big impression.
  Dr. Bonner went on to serve as President of the Future Homemakers of 
America, was selected as ``Most Intelligent'' in the Who's Who of her 
senior class, and served as editor-in-chief of her high school 
newspaper, The Tiger Rag. She received her Bachelor of Science and 
Master of Science degrees from The University of Alabama and her 
doctorate from Ohio State University.
  Girls State helped motivate Dr. Bonner to do great things in her life 
and to have a positive impact on her community and state. It is only 
fitting that Dr. Bonner would go on to become the first female 
President of the University of Alabama and the first female President 
from a school in the Southeastern Conference.
  Under her leadership, Dr. Bonner has guided The University of Alabama 
through record-breaking growth and expansion. University of Alabama 
System Chancellor Dr. Robert E. Witt is quoted as saying, ``I can say 
firsthand that she is one of the most intelligent, well-focused and 
forward thinking academic administrators in the nation.''
  During her tenure at Alabama, Dr. Bonner has continued to play a key 
role in the Alabama Girls State program. She successfully recruited the 
American Legion Auxiliary's Girls State program to the campus of the 
University of Alabama in 2013. This year, Dr. Bonner will once again 
have a key impact on the over 350 young women taking part in the Girls 
State program.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Dr. Bonner for her continued commitment to 
inspiring and motivating young women in Alabama and across the United 
States to reach beyond ordinary expectations and never give up on their 
dreams.

                          ____________________