[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 26 (Monday, July 2, 2001)]
[Pages 967-968]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Ceremony Honoring Presidential Scholars

June 25, 2001

    Thank you very much. Okay, sit down. [Laughter] Except for you all. 
[Laughter] Mr. Secretary, thank you. The good folks from Houston know 
what I'm about to tell you is true. First of all, behave yourself. 
[Laughter] And secondly, I picked a true leader to run the Department of 
Education when I picked Rod Paige. He did a great job as the 
superintendent in Houston. He's a no-nonsense kind of guy, you know, and 
he's getting a lot done. And I'm honored to have you here.
    And Bruno, thank you very much. As the Chairman, I appreciate your 
leadership. And I want to thank all the members on the Commission. Thank 
you for taking time out of your private lives to herald the best of 
America. I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress who 
are here. I understand John Hostettler is here from Indiana and George 
Nethercutt from Washington and Bernie Sanders from the State of Vermont. 
I think they're here. Thank you all for coming.
    It's an honor for me to be here to honor some of America's finest 
students. You all should be proud of this award, and you should know 
your country is proud of you. Congratulations.
    Out of an applicant pool of over 2,700 exceptional students, 141 
were chosen. While your excellence ranges from science to the arts, all 
of you share some common traits of

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character: hard work, commitment, leadership, faith in yourself, and 
service to others. You represent the best of your generation, and I'm 
confident you'll do great things for our great Nation.
    You've earned your place here today, but you did not do it alone. 
First, we want to thank the parents and family members who worked side 
by side with you. I want to thank you for your commitment to your kids 
and to their excellence.
    And I want to thank the teachers who join us here today. A good 
teacher is a model and a mentor, a source of praise and a source of 
challenge. A good teacher can change a life. A generation of good 
teachers can change a nation. Our Nation deeply respects your important 
work, and thank you for being here.
    You all have come to Washington in an historic time: The Congress is 
about to pass the most important education reform in nearly 40 years. 
Every school, with students of every income, will be expected to meet 
high standards of learning and literacy. Every school will get the 
flexibility and help it needs to meet those standards. And every student 
will be tested to make sure those standards are actually achieved.
    The longer it takes Congress to pass these important reforms, the 
less time State policymakers, school boards, principals, and teachers 
will have to act on them. I urge the Congress to act now, before it is 
too late.
    Thirty-seven years ago, when President Johnson honored the first 
Presidential Scholars, Congress was debating the historic Civil Rights 
Act of 1964. Now, as you receive your awards, Congress is debating the 
next frontier of civil rights: solid education--because I believe the 
better we educate all our children the more united our society will be, 
the more equal we'll become in hope and opportunity and in achievement.
    Excellence in education is a matter of standards and talent, and it 
is also a matter of character. We all need high ambitions. But it is 
strong values that give dignity and direction to our lives. And here, as 
in other areas, the young folks in this room excel.
    Marco Ramirez of Florida--say hello to the Governor for me--
[laughter]--is being honored for his talents as a playwright. Yet, Marco 
also found a way to translate his love of theater into service. He gave 
a Halloween party for 200 children in a crime-ridden neighborhood, 
allowing them to enjoy the holiday in the safety of a school.
    Or another honoree, Dean Spears of Oklahoma, shared his love of 
learning with residents of a local nursing home, out of concern that 
they did not have enough ways to exercise their minds. After securing a 
space at the nursing home for a library, Dean advertised his project to 
the community. The library now has over 1,600 books, each labeled and 
catalogued by Dean, himself.
    Our society needs your contributions. During my lifetime I've seen 
the culture change from one that emphasized the difference between right 
and wrong to one that says, ``If it feels good, do it,'' and ``If you 
have a problem, blame somebody else.'' But I believe culture can change, 
and it changes as a result of leadership. And the young folks on this 
stage today are leaders by, first and foremost, taking responsibility of 
their own lives and listening to that universal call to love a neighbor 
just like they'd like to be loved themselves.
    Sometimes it's said that this generation is self-absorbed and 
apathetic. Your achievements and good works and generous spirit, 
especially at such a young age, make your friends and family proud. I 
want to thank you for your contribution you make to our Nation today and 
urge you on, because the contributions you'll make tomorrow will be just 
as important.
    Welcome to Washington. Congratulations, and God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 3:33 p.m. at Constitution Hall. In his 
remarks, he referred to Bruno V. Manno, chairman, White House Commission 
on Presidential Scholars, and Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida.