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A Salute To Our Fine Community Colleges |
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BY
GUS BILIRAKIS
Tampa Tribune
Monday
May 21, 2007
Section PASCO;
Page 2
Education is one of the most
important resources we have to ensure the continued progress and prosperity of
this great nation.
It is imperative that future generations have a quality education to keep the United States
globally competitive. Our country's community colleges are some of the most
effective institutions to help achieve this goal, and I am proud to acknowledge
May as National Community College Month.
There are more than 1,200 community colleges nationwide serving more than 11
million Americans with hopes of attaining a higher education. These
close-to-home centers provide high-quality education at a low cost and
encourage any individual to enroll regardless of previous schooling.
Community colleges also encourage older Americans to seek out education when
that might not have been a possibility when they were younger. The degrees and
certificates these institutions of learning offer also help create additional
career opportunities that otherwise might not have been available.
Furthermore, our community colleges are at the forefront of strengthening our
nation's health care community, ensuring the continued safety of our homeland
and enhancing many other vital industries. In fact, according to the American
Association of Community Colleges, half of new nurses and a majority of other
new health care personnel are educated at these institutions.
The AACC also notes that nearly 80 percent of our first responders are
credentialed at community colleges. It is heartening to know that many of these
individuals give back so selflessly to the communities in which they were
educated.
As a product of an education received at St.
Petersburg College, I
know the vital role it played in preparing me for my future education at the University of Florida
and Stetson Law School,
as well as my career. For that reason, I proudly stood with my colleagues in
Congress when we unanimously approved a resolution recently supporting the
goals and ideals of National Community College Month.
Florida's 9th Congressional District is
fortunate to have three of the best community colleges in the country: St. Petersburg College,
Pasco-Hernando Community
College and Hillsborough
Community College. I am
encouraged that every year more and more Americans are taking advantage of the
great opportunities these institutions offer and because of that I look forward
to America's
continued success.
The writer, a Republican, represents
the 9th District, which includes part of Pasco
County, in the U.S. House of
Representatives. He lives in Palm
Harbor and is an attorney.
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