February 4, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E117 CELEBRATING 2016 NATIONAL IN RECOGNITION OF NICOLINA I would just like others to know how consid- CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK (NICKI) R. CARDWELL FOR HER erate and kind a government employee can DEDICATED CAREER OF PUBLIC be.’’ SERVICE This type of praise was not uncommon for HON. DAN BENISHEK Nicki. Her personnel folder is full of thank you OF MICHIGAN HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER notes and emails referring to her as ‘‘jumping IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF right into the action’’, ‘‘could not have been Thursday, February 4, 2016 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES more helpful’’, and ‘‘beyond the call of duty.’’ Her dedication to constituents led one indi- Thursday, February 4, 2016 Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to vidual to even refer to her positively as a ‘‘bull- celebrate 2016 National Catholic Schools Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to dog’’ and went on to say ‘‘You’re lucky to have Week. Across the First District of Michigan, recognize one of our own. On Friday, January such a person on your staff.’’ there are 22 Catholic schools providing a first 22, 2016, Ms. Nicolina (Nicki) Cardwell retired So it should come as no surprise, Mr. rate education to over 4,100 students that from my office after serving a combined sev- Speaker, that when I was first elected to Con- combines faith with academic excellence. enteen years for the people of Missouri’s Fifth gress in November, 2004, I knew immediately Since coming to Congress, it has been an Congressional District as a Community Affairs who my first staff hire would be. The list of honor to meet with students in Catholic Liaison for eleven years in my Independence civic leaders and elected officials advocating schools across my district at St. Francis de District Office and six years with my prede- that I hire Nicki was lengthy, but they did not Sales in Manistique, Manistee Catholic Central cessor. Overall, Nicki dedicated four decades need to convince me. I knew after our con- School in Manistee, and Menominee Catholic of public service to our community, as a versation that a more passionate and caring Central School in Menominee, among others. teacher, county employee, and ultimately retir- caseworker did not exist. This year, the theme of National Catholic ing from Congressional service, spending Over the past eleven years, Nicki has Schools Week is ‘‘Catholic Schools: Commu- much of her career based in Eastern Jackson helped thousands of constituents. She has nities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.’’ As a County, Missouri. worked primarily with our veterans and active lifelong Catholic, former student, and frequent Born May 7, 1947, to an Italian mother, military personnel, but does not hesitate to guest of schools across Northern Michigan, I Silva Piva, and a Kansan father, George Mor- jump in to help whenever needed. She often know that the Catholic schools in our region ris, Nicolina Rowena Maria Cardwell often re- would spend hours listening to constituents in are certainly living up to these goals. minds folks of her proud Italian heritage. After person or on the telephone as they shared This year, Congress was blessed to hear studying at Central Missouri State University their struggles with her, pleased to find an em- from Pope Francis. Pope Francis has called and taking time to raise a beautiful family, pathetic listener. Her compassion for the men on all Catholic schools to ‘‘provide an edu- Nicki returned to school. At the University of and women in uniform who have served and cation which teaches critical thinking and en- Missouri-Kansas City, she earned a Bachelor continue to serve our nation is unparalleled. courages the development of mature moral of Science in Physical Education and Health, She regularly attended Stand Downs, Vet- values.’’ going on to teach in public and private schools erans Day, and Memorial Day events with me, In light of this, I have signed onto House in Independence, helping to shape future gen- or on my behalf. She worked to honor vet- Resolution 35, a resolution that honors the erations. erans through helping to arrange special contributions that Catholic schools have made Nicki has spent much of her adult life as a events for Vietnam veterans, Korean veterans, to the and its people. I rise resident of Independence, Missouri, home to World War I veterans, World War II veterans, today in strong support of H. Res. 35, and Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United and Tuskegee Airmen, just to name a few. urge my colleagues to support this resolution States. She is well known throughout the area, She created a Veterans Advisory Committee as well. Together, we must all recognize the as she has been an active volunteer in the to help serve as a sounding board when im- significant contributions that Catholic schools community and politically active for causes portant issues arose within the VA system or have made to our country. and individuals she supports. In 1988, Nicki in proposed legislation. In addition, Nicki spent joined the Jackson County Parks and Recre- countless hours every year helping our young f ation Department, holding a variety of posi- people going through the Academy nomination tions over the next ten years, including in the process, giving counsel and advice to those HONORING BOONE EVANS Speaker’s Bureau, where she helped intro- eager to join our prestigious military institu- duce thousands of individuals to Jackson tions. County’s programs, facilities, and parks. Given Nicki’s background, she often as- HON. Among many other responsibilities, Nicki as- sisted with many of our special projects as OF MISSOURI sisted with marketing, group events, and pub- well. There have been too many projects to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lic relations while working for the County. name them all, but the one that stands out is Thursday, February 4, 2016 In 1999, Nicki joined the staff of my prede- our annual Congressional Art Contest. Nicki’s cessor, Congresswoman Karen McCarthy. leadership helped shepherd record participa- Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I While being considered for the position, some tion with nearly 200 pieces of artwork from proudly pause to recognize Boone Evans. of her prior employers called her, ‘‘the best high school students around the Fifth District Boone is a very special young man who has we’ve ever had dealing with the public,’’ and being submitted for consideration. She worked exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship ‘‘a hard worker—very good.’’ As she assumed personally with principals and art teachers to and leadership by taking an active part in the her new role as a caseworker, Nicki handled encourage submissions to guarantee all parts Boy Scouts of America, Troop 376, and earn- passports, immigration, and veterans issues of the District were well represented. She ing the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. among others impacting residents of Mis- carefully handled and displayed each piece as Boone has been very active with his troop, souri’s Fifth District. She was often the recipi- if it were her own. She helped secure some of participating in many scout activities. Over the ent of great praise from constituents she our community’s strongest advocates for the many years Boone has been involved with helped, including in one letter to the editor in arts to judge the students’ submissions to en- scouting, he has not only earned numerous which the constituent had faced repeated sure the winning artwork hanging in the Can- merit badges, but also the respect of his fam- roadblocks before making his first call to a non Tunnel represented the best of our Dis- ily, peers, and community. Most notably, Congressional office. He wrote: trict. Students and teachers alike have come Boone has led his troop as the Senior Patrol ‘‘. . . I called [the Congressional] office ex- to rely on Nicki’s friendship and expertise and Leader, earned the rank of Firebuilder in the pecting another difficult process. Nicki they will surely miss her guidance, as will I. Tribe of Mic-O-Say, and has become a Broth- Cardwell called me back within five minutes. In addition to Nicki’s primary role as a case- erhood member of the Order of the Arrow. She proceeded to treat me as if I were ‘fam- worker, she also regularly represented the of- Boone has also contributed to his community ily.’ I know that she is very busy, but I felt like fice at meetings and events throughout the through his Eagle Scout project. I was the only one on her agenda. She went District. She was a regular at the Independ- Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in beyond the call of duty and even met with me ence Chamber of Commerce, the Eastern commending Boone Evans for his accomplish- on a Saturday afternoon to complete the pa- Jackson County Betterment Council, the Na- ments with the Boy Scouts of America and for perwork I needed . . . She made me feel very tional World War I Museum and Memorial, the his efforts put forth in achieving the highest comfortable throughout the entire process. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, and distinction of Eagle Scout. She took a lot of stress off my shoulders, and 40 Club to name but a few. She is as well

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