Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1062-E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING DR. WILLARD LEWALLEN
______
HON. JIMMY PANETTA
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the retiring
Superintendent-President of Hartnell Community College District, Dr.
Willard Lewallen, for his career in higher education and commitment to
serving the people of the central coast of California. His leadership
has touched the lives of many, and I am honored to acknowledge his
legacy today in the House of Representatives.
Throughout his seven years in his role as Superintendent-President,
Dr. Lewallen has remained committed to a philosophy of ``students
first.'' He has set an inspiring example for Hartnell College employees
and its supporters, leading initiatives and partnerships that have
yielded tremendous success and strengthened Hartnell and the entire
Salinas Valley. The continual growth and development of the college
itself is due in large part to Dr. Lewallen's investment of time and
expertise into improvement of campus programs and facilities. Dr.
Lewallen's record of service to Hartnell and the Salinas Valley has
certainly left a lasting impact on the City of Salinas and the Monterey
Peninsula.
Student success has been a priority of Dr. Lewallen throughout his
time at Hartnell and is reflected by an overwhelming increase in
completion of degrees and certificates. The number of students pursuing
four-year degrees has also risen during Dr. Lewallen's tenure,
preparing these students to transfer to the California State University
and University of California systems to complete their degrees.
Dr. Lewallen has left an indelible mark on the central coast with
Hartnell's recently developed partnerships with California State
University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare
System. Dr. Lewallen helped initiate programs like the CSin3 program,
which allows students to complete a B.S. in computer science in three
years, and the Teacher Transfer Pathway program, which enables students
to begin at Hartnell and continue seamlessly at CSUMB and earn a
teaching certificate within five years.
Growth and development have been remarkable under the leadership of
Dr. Lewallen
[[Page E1063]]
and has impacted faculty and staff in constructive ways. The steady
increase in the number of employees and full-time faculty and has been
paired with substantial investments made in future construction sites
within the Hartnell College system. Dr. Lewallen has helped to secure
funding for the construction of new Hartnell education outreach centers
in Soledad and Castroville, a state-of-the-art nursing and health
sciences building on the Main Campus in Salinas. He has also overseen
efforts to refurbish classroom buildings on the Main Campus and the
transformation of the Central Plaza.
As Dr. Lewallen celebrates his retirement, I am proud to commend him
on his invaluable work as a higher education leader. On behalf of
residents across the Central Coast, I ask my colleagues to join me in
thanking Dr. Willard Lewallen for his service and wishing him a long
and healthy retirement.
____________________