June 20, 2006 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 152, Pt. 9 11991 TRIBUTE TO ROSITA FERNANDEZ, She began a much deserved retirement in with the $6,000 Project GRAD Newark Schol- SAN ANTONIO’S FIRST LADY OF 1982 that concluded her performing career but arship as they go off to college this fall. At a SONG began her philanthropic career. Rosita sang time when the City of Newark is struggling to for numerous causes and charities and ap- reduce crime in the streets and help young HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ peared at a wide range of locales to do so. people have hope and focus for a bright fu- OF TEXAS Among the causes she supported were the ture, these students are taking full advantage IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Brooke Army Medical Center’s Burn Unit, the of the opportunities Project GRAD Newark Tuesday, June 20, 2006 March of Dimes, and churches. Yet, the cause provides. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues she worked hardest to promote was that of join me in congratulating these students on Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today education. After spending her life bridging cul- their achievements and all those associated to pay tribute to Rosita Fernandez, a San An- tures and educating America about Latinos, it with the Project GRAD Newark program in tonio icon and a giant in Tejano music, In a is fitting that she chose to focus her talents on helping to facilitate this significant program. career spanning six decades, she was one of helping others cross the bridge from ignorance f the first Latinas to cross over into Anglo Amer- to knowledge. ican mainstream media and appeared in tele- San Antonio suffered a great loss and my CONGRATULATING IMMANUEL ST. vision shows, radio broadcasts and major stu- thoughts and prayers go out to her husband JOSEPH’S MAYO HEALTH SYS- dio movies, Rosita performed for Pope John and her family. TEM HOSPITAL Paul II, Prince Charles and five U.S. Presi- f dents including President Carter for his inau- HON. GIL GUTKNECHT guration. TRIBUTE TO PROJECT GRAD She introduced Mexican culture to a wider NEWARK OF MINNESOTA audience and was an ambassador for Latino IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cultures. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson named HON. DONALD M. PAYNE Tuesday, June 20, 2006 her ‘‘San Antonio’s First Lady of Song,’’ yet in OF NEW JERSEY Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today San Antonio, we knew her as ‘‘Rosita’’ and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to congratulate St. Joseph’s Mayo Health Sys- were very proud that she represented our Tuesday, June 20, 2006 tem Hospital of Mankato, Minnesota, on re- community. ceiving the National Committee for Employer She began singing at the age of 9 shortly Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my col- Support of the Guard and Reserve’s Above after her family made their way from leagues here in the House of Representatives Monterrey, Mexico, to San Antonio. Rosita to join me as I rise to acknowledge Project and Beyond award. adapted to each new mode of entertainment. GRAD Newark as it hosts its sixth annual The National Committee for Employer Sup- In the 1920’s, she performed throughout south scholars celebration on Monday, June 19, port of the Guard and Reserve, ESGR, was Texas with her uncles in the ‘‘Trio San 2006. Project GRAD has every right to be established in 1972 to promote cooperation Miguel.’’ As radio grew more popular, Rosita proud of its accomplishments and a celebra- and understanding between Reserve compo- began broadcasting on a W.O.A.I. program, tion is indeed in order. nent members and their civilian employers. As W.O.A.I. moved into television, so did Project GRAD Newark was established in Their mission is to continuously gain and Rosita as she appeared in the station’s first 1998 to provide support and an educationally maintain active support from all public and pri- broadcast. Thereafter, Rosita performed in a enriched opportunity for Malcolm X Shabazz vate employers for the men and women of the weekly series. Yet, she made recording the High School and eight schools that feed stu- National Guard and Reserve. Local and na- foundation of her career and cut hundreds of dents to it. The objectives of Project GRAD tional representatives stand ready to help em- records over the duration of her career. Her Newark are to raise the level of academic per- ployers understand Federal laws that affect recordings will perpetuate her brilliance and be formance in mathematics and literacy; to have the call-up of their employees. The Above and a lasting contribution to American culture. students believe in their ability to achieve; to Beyond Award recognizes those who have Rosita was a pioneer in popularizing a num- have all students aspire to graduate from high gone beyond what Federal law requires for ber of styles including canciones romanticas school and pursue a college education and to supporting activated Guard employees. and the bolero, a hybrid style that fused Afri- have students strive to receive the $6,000 Minnesota businesses that employ Guard can and Hispanic styles. At a time when the Project GRAD scholarship. Fortunately for the members are an essential link in family sup- ranchera style was ascendent, Rosita students of Newark, Project GRAD Newark port for deployed service members. The State breathed new life into canciones romanticas, expanded to include Central High School and of Minnesota is recognized as a leader among which entailed complex orchestral arrange- its six feeder schools in 2000. those employing Guard and Reserve members ments. In both instances, the leadership of the and received the 2004 Secretary of Defense Rosita achieved success on the silver Newark Public Schools assessed key indica- Employer Support Freedom Award. screen. She appeared opposite John Wayne tors of progress and determined these two Immanuel St. Joseph’s Mayo Health System in ‘‘The Alamo,’’ and played the lead in feeder groups were lowest in the district. Hospital, ISJ–MHS Hospital, one of 475 com- Disney’s 1963 film, ‘‘Sancho, The Homing These schools needed the GRAD reform ini- panies nominated for the Above and Beyond Steer,’’ which was based on J. Frank Dobie’s tiative to support them with research-based Award, was nominated by Chief Master Sgt. true story. But, at a time, when most Ameri- programs, services and resources. Dennis of Mankato, Minnesota. cans did not have first hand experience with Project GRAD Newark is the first expansion I extend my sincere congratulations to Im- Latinos, figures like Rosita or Desi Arnaz site for the model that was developed in Hous- manuel St. Joseph’s Mayo Health System began to change perceptions and biases ton, TX, in 1993. With initial support from Hospital for receiving the Above and Beyond against our community. Rosita was the con- Lucent Technologies Foundation and the Ford Award from the National Committee for Em- summate cultural ambassador for San Antonio Foundation, the Newark Public Schools en- ployer Support of Guard and Reserve and and Latinos throughout America. tered into partnership and launched Project commend them for the extraordinary services Beginning in the 1950’s, Rosita performed GRAD Newark. provided to those who serve our country. at the Arneson River Theater every year dur- Today, 16 schools serving over 8,500 stu- f ing the ‘‘Fiesta Noche del Rio.’’ San Antonio dents, 485 teachers and 50 administrators could look forward to a summer full of their constitute the Project GRAD Newark family. KAREN HOSPITAL beloved Rosita performing at the beautiful am- All can share in the joy of the improvements phitheater on the Riverwalk in La Villita. It was in each of the schools. On-time graduation HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS there during the 1968 Hemisfair that Rosita rates at Central High School have doubled OF NEW YORK performed for 40 ambassadors. She became since it became a GRAD school. At Malcolm IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES so inseparable from that place that San Anto- X Shabazz, the on-time graduation rate has Tuesday, June 20, 2006 nio named an adjacent bridge for her and improved by 20 percent compared to the many said that this bridge symbolized the way years before it became a GRAD high school. Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, a few months Rosita brought Mexican and American cultures This year 109 students, 60 from Malcolm X ago, there was an historic moment that was, together. Shabazz and 49 from Central, will graduate sadly, underreported by the news media in

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