[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[June 18, 1992]
[Pages 967-969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a Ceremony Honoring Presidential Scholars

June 18, 1992
    Please be seated, all of you. I know you've been waiting out here 
for a while. But let me first thank Governor Engler, one of the great 
Governors of our country out there in the State of Michigan, for his 
leadership, not simply for his being willing to lead in this field, 
Presidential scholars, but for what he's doing for our country. I'm also 
delighted to be with Lamar Alexander. He is literally trying to 
revolutionize the educational processes in this country. And we owe him 
a vote of gratitude, too--both of them.
    When we were standing on that balcony a minute ago--I'm just sorry 
all of you weren't here then--with Boris Yeltsin, I told him, but I want 
to just say again here today, that we are welcoming to the White House 
in this ceremony the best and the brightest of American students. We 
meet on the 28th anniversary of the highest scholastic award that a 
President can bestow, the Presidential Scholarship Program.
    Earlier I was talking to Barbara about this, and she noted that if 
your scholastic brilliance continues into your career work, maybe you 
won't end up like I have, where your dog makes more money than you do as 
an author. [Laughter]
    I've got to confess that things have changed since I was a student. 
Nowadays with computers, bringing an apple to the

[[Page 968]]

teacher has an entirely different meaning. [Laughter] But what really 
hasn't changed is the meaning of education. It can form the noblest 
character and lay the surest foundation of usefulness to mankind.
    Take a look at this year's Presidential scholars, from all 50 
States, from the District, U.S. territories, and families living abroad, 
and consider why you learn: not only for learning's sake, to help 
yourself, but also to help others. You know that scholarship can further 
service to Nation and certainly can further service to neighbor and 
community.
    For instance, just to single out a few, here sits Cara Reichel of 
Rome, Georgia. She's written and illustrated this book. I want to thank 
her for the copy. Barbara and I are thrilled with the inscription; 
that's why we brought it along. Anarug Bansal of East Greenwich, Rhode 
Island. Where's Anarug? Right back here. In his experiments he found a 
chemical that blocks HIV activity in blood cells. One scholar's family 
emigrated from the former Soviet Union; another escaped from Hungary. 
All know how education stems from the human heart and the human mind.
    Let me just tell you a little story. Once Albert Einstein and his 
wife, they visited California's Mount Wilson Observatory. Pointing to a 
very complex piece of equipment, Mrs. Einstein asked its purpose, and 
their guide said that it helped determine the shape of the universe. 
Mrs. Einstein was not impressed. ``Oh,'' she said, ``my husband uses the 
back of an envelope to work that out.'' [Laughter]
    Well, Einstein used envelopes to ask questions and find solutions, 
and you may use typewriters and word processors or yellow legal pads. 
I'm told some of you are so intelligent you even know how to set the 
timer on a VCR. [Laughter] But the goal's the same: To become an 
educated person. Only then can you use this knowledge to lead humanity 
to the stars, becoming what we refer to as a Point of Light in the lives 
of your neighbors and your families and your friends.
    That's what Lisa Kim of Minneapolis is doing. She formed a chamber 
ensemble to perform at local nursing homes and hospitals. And where is 
she now? Right here. Congratulations on that. Joane Liu of Princeton 
Junction, where's Joane? Right over here. She teaches physically and 
mentally handicapped kids to sing and to read music. And in Davenport, 
Amy Symons, Amy? Right over here on the end. Amy is a peer tutor. And in 
Salt Lake City, Alexis Sentell spends hours at the Utah Food Bank. 
Alexis? Way back there. Across the country in Norwalk, Connecticut, 
Kendrew Witt coaches Special Olympic swimming. Kendrew, where is he? 
Right here in the front. Here's what he says, ``I wanted to return to 
the community what it has given to me.''
    And it's principles like these--that's principles which explain why 
you've excelled inside and outside of the classroom. And for that we all 
ought to thank principals with an ``al.'' We need, too, to thank your 
favorite teacher, your local minister, that close friend in your town or 
city who literally has inspired you to learn. That brings me to those 
who deserve the most thanks of all, your parents, giving of their time 
and of themselves. They truly showed the way.
    This is your day, but it is also your parents' day. And Shannon 
Wallace is a Presidential scholar from Sewickley, Pennsylvania. Shannon? 
Right back here. And she asked, ``How do you thank your parents for 18 
years of a wonderful, solid upbringing?'' And if I could suggest a way: 
Honor them. Remember always that learning and teaching is a lifelong 
enterprise.
    Our pioneering program that I referred to earlier to literally 
revolutionize education, it's called America 2000, recognizes the fact 
that education is key to our economic survival. We know that education 
can help achieve America's three great legacies: family, jobs, and 
peace.
    So our America 2000 program challenges students to stay involved in 
their schools and schools in their community. Our crusade seeks to make 
America number one in math and science by the year 2000, increasing our 
ability to learn and compete in the world, and making our great country 
more prosperous.
    Education is our most enduring legacy, vital to everything we are 
and everything we can become. It's as young as you are,

[[Page 969]]

and it's as old as the Scriptures. And it can, indeed, make America a 
better Nation and ensure a more decent world.
    To every Presidential scholar, my heartfelt congratulations. Barbara 
and I both congratulate you and honor you. And to all of you here, thank 
you parents for what you do. To the rest of you on the Commission, thank 
you for giving of yourselves to keep this wonderful program going 
forward. Thank you all for coming to the White House on this very 
special low humidity day--[laughter]--on the South Lawn of the White 
House.
    May God bless our great country. Thank you.

                    Note: The President spoke at 9:10 a.m. on the South 
                        Lawn at the White House.