Joe Wilson: “I rise today to honor the students and faculty of Irmo High School in Irmo, South, Carolina. Irmo High just received…”

“I rise today to honor the students and faculty of Irmo High School in Irmo, South, Carolina. Irmo High just received recognition from the U.S. Department of Education as a blue ribbon school, their third such award. As Secretary of Education Rod Paige has said, schools chosen for the blue ribbon will be ones that are meeting our mission to ensure that every child learns and no child is left behind. Blue ribbon recipients will be national models of excellence that others can learn from. I want to personally thank the hard work of the faculty who have visited Washington, including Principal Gerald Witt, teachers Phil Tanner, Jan McCarthy, and JROTC director Colonel Pete Sercer. Also, School District Five school board members have supported the progress made at Irmo High School, especially Jan Hammond, Paula Hite, and Carol Sloop. Yet above all, the ones who really deserve recognition are the students who have achieved remarkably. Irmo High School is truly an example of educational success, and I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring the school today, a day highlighted by the visit of California Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger. In conclusion, may God bless our troops.”