[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8468-8469]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


   HONORING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 70th 
anniversary of San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, California--
a private Catholic high school located in Fresno, California, in the 
heart of the San Joaquin Valley.
  San Joaquin Memorial High School was founded in 1945, as the only 
Catholic high school in the greater Fresno area that is part of the 
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno. Named after the men and women of the 
San Joaquin Valley who gave their lives serving our country during 
World War II, San Joaquin Memorial is the first Diocesan Catholic High 
School in the Monterey-Fresno Diocese. Since its founding the school 
has grown from being a small high school, to serving over 600 students 
today.
  Over the last 70 years, many generations of students have walked the 
halls of San Joaquin Memorial, and have continued on to become leaders 
throughout the Central Valley, and beyond. San Joaquin Memorial mission 
has always been dedicated to developing future citizens and leaders. 
Memorial promotes a standard of excellence that challenges students 
through a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, and faith based 
program. These programs are designed to challenge students to become 
active, and engaged members of their communities in order to enhance 
their learning experience.
  In addition to being top academic achievers, students also perform 
hundreds of hours of community service to the greater Fresno community 
through San Joaquin Memorial's Service Learning program. Service-
learning offers students the opportunity to process what they learn in 
the classroom, and apply it by serving their community in a variety of 
ways. Each year, students are required to serve at least twenty hours 
in their communities, through a variety of local charities. Many 
students choose to volunteer with many community based organizations 
that serve the neediest of people in the Central Valley, including 
serving meals at the Poverello House, Community Food Bank, Catholic 
Charities, and volunteering on Kids Day to raise money for Valley 
Children's Hospital.
  When young men and women graduate from San Joaquin Memorial, they are 
prepared to enter college, and ninety-nine percent of all Memorial 
graduates do attend a four year university upon graduation. Memorial 
works to inspire their students to become compassionate and 
conscientious leaders, so that they are equipped to serve their 
communities in a variety of professions.
  San Joaquin Memorial is an inclusive community that embraces 
diversity and challenges each student to reach their full potential. 
Many outstanding alumni have walked Memorial's halls and now have 
established themselves in distinguished careers in law, medicine, 
business, education, government, technology, the military, sports, and 
other notable fields. As an alumnus of San Joaquin Memorial, it gives 
me great pleasure to celebrate this momentous occasion with the 
students, faculty, staff, and fellow alumni of Memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to join me in recognizing San Joaquin Memorial 
High School of Fresno, as they celebrate its 70th anniversary. I extend 
my best wishes for the school's continued success in shaping the lives 
of young students, creating model citizens, and serving our communities 
throughout the Valley, and our nation.

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