In The News
THE MONITOR: Rep. Cuellar receives 2015 Outstanding Alumni Award
Washington,
April 28, 2015
Tags:
Education
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, was recently awarded the 2015 Outstanding Alumni Award at the 2015 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Annual Convention in San Antonio. The award is given to individuals nominated by their community college who have excelled in their field and given back to their community. Cuellar was in Washington voting the day of the award ceremony, but submitted a video thanking AACC for the honor.
Cuellar was nominated by Dr. Shirley Reed, President of South Texas College, who accepted the award on Cuellar’s behalf. Cuellar is a graduate of Laredo Junior College (now Laredo Community college), where he studied political science from 1974 to 1976 and earned his associate degree summa cum laude.
After graduating from Laredo Junior College, Cuellar went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington D.C., a Master’s Degree in International Trade from Texas A&M International University, and a law degree and Ph.D. in government from the University of Texas. Today, Dr. Cuellar is known to be the “most degreed member of Congress.”
Cuellar recognizes the important role community colleges play in our local communities, offering many Texas students access to academic programs and technical trainings they wouldn’t otherwise have access to, and providing an affordable route to a four-year college degree. Forty percent of college students are enrolled at one of America’s more than 1,000 community colleges, and by 2020, an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require at least a bachelor’s degree and 30 percent will require some college or an associate degree. It is because of this, and his personal experience in community college, that has made access to quality, affordable education like that which our community colleges offer, a major priority throughout Cuellar’s career at both the state and federal levels.
When in the Texas state legislature Cuellar was a champion and original author of the landmark TEXAS Grant, which is the largest scholarship program in Texas history. With the TEXAS grant, more students are now enrolling and graduating from colleges and universities across the State of Texas. Cuellar continues to be an advocate at the federal level as U.S. Congressman for the 28th District of Texas.
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