December 10, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2365 

Winner served as Dean of Instruction, Acting 

Assistant Campus Director, and now as Acting 

Vice President of Academic Affairs at the 

Terry Campus in Dover and Assistant Campus 

Director at Wilmington/Stanton. 

In all of these roles, from faculty member to 

administrative leader, Dr. Winner has proved 

an invaluable member of the Delaware Tech 

family. She played an instrumental role in establishing and promoting that mindset for 

which Delaware Tech has become known and 

that has helped the organization thrive into the 

statewide institution that it is today: ‘‘focused 

on excellence, but never ignoring the individual’’. Dr. Winner never lost sight of the educators’ primary mission to serve and mentor 

students in order that they may become successful individuals. It is this selfless dedication 

that has come to define the character of Dr. 

Connie Winner in the minds of her colleagues 

and students at Delaware Tech. 

Once again, I commend Dr. Connie Winner 

on nearly four decades of exemplary service 

to Delaware Technical & Community College. 

While I am sure that her caring spirit will be 

missed in the halls of the campuses, I am 

confident that she will remain an active and influential member of the Delaware community. 

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A TRIBUTE TO ISRAEL 

VELA ́ ZQUEZ 

HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to pay tribute and to honor Mr. Israel 

Vela ́zquez. Mr. Vela ́zquez is the founder and 

President of Vela ́zquez Associates, Inc., and 

its subsidiary Vela ́zquez Accounting Services 

(D/B/A/), a New York-based Accounting and 

Non Profit Development Consulting firm. 

Mr. Vela ́zquez, for the past 30 years, has 

consistently assembled public and private 

partnerships on affordable housing and economic development projects in urban cities 

throughout the United States and in several 

Caribbean islands. Mr. Vela ́zquez has successfully managed to have a major input in 

various national, statewide and citywide revitalization programs benefiting various disadvantaged communities. His tireless efforts 

have borne fruit, as evidenced by new ventures in affordable housing, senior citizen 

housing complexes, community-owned shopping centers and well-recognized youth programs in these communities. 

Mr. Vela ́zquez has held several executive 

positions as the first Comptroller for organizations such as the West Harlem Community Organization, Inc., the National Black United 

Fund, and the Black United Fund of New 

York, Inc. 

Currently, Mr. Israel Vela ́zquez serves as 

Special Project Director for the East New York 

Development Corporation formulating public 

and private partnerships in ascertaining corporate giving, public grants, and funding specialized academic and recreation programs/activities for the youth in the East New York 

community. 

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize 

Mr. Israel Vela ́zquez for his extraordinary accomplishments on behalf of East New York 

and elsewhere. 

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 

join me in paying tribute to Mr. Israel 

Vela ́zquez. 

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HONORING THE LEWIS AND CLARK 

TRAILBLAZERS 

HON. JOHN SHIMKUS OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, today I rise 

to pay tribute to an outstanding group of 

women from Lewis and Clark Community College who last week completed an amazing 

soccer season by winning the National Junior 

College Athletic Association Division 1 National Championship. 

The Lewis and Clark Trailblazers defeated 

previously unbeaten Darton College by a 

score of 3-2 on November 3, 2008 to cap off 

a 27–1 season, thereby setting an NJCAA 

record for most wins in a single season. 

My congratulations go to head coach Tim 

Rooney, assistant coaches Ryan Hodge and 

Meghan Rooney, and the members of the 

2008 National Champion Trailblazers: Taylor 

Bivens, Nicole Yaun, Brittany St. John, Liz 

Pivin, Molly Kellett, Meredith Morkel, Sarah 

Schultenhenrich, Kim Kahre, Bridget Belli, 

Kaylee Neutzling, Jennifer Vandever, Mallory 

Morkel, Kelly Musenfechter, Bianca Busch, 

Jessica Randazzo, Emily Winschel, Jamie 

Beuhrle, Kristin Pelley, Emily Silorski, and 

Danielle Lucks. 

These women represented themselves, their 

families and their community in a first-class 

fashion, and I wish them all the best in their 

future endeavors, both on and off the field. 

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TRIBUTE TO ARMY CPT ROB 

YLLESCAS 

HON. ADRIAN SMITH OF NEBRASKA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, 

today I rise to honor a brave young man who 

called Nebraska’s Third District home, Army 

CPT Rob Yllescas, who was laid to rest this 

week after succumbing to injuries received in 

Afghanistan on October 28. He commanded 

B-Troop, 6–4 Cavalry of the 3rd Brigade, 1st 

Infantry Division. 

Rob has been described as a hero both on 

and off the battlefield. I was honored to speak 

with his family a few weeks ago, and I was 

touched by their hope, resolve, and spirit even 

as Rob struggled against his injuries. Nebraskans throughout our State are sending our 

thoughts and prayers to his wife, Dena, and 

his two daughters, Julia and Eva. I know 

Rob’s strength is with them. 

Words cannot express our gratitude for 

Rob’s service to our country, or the loss of 

such a brave friend and father. We can do no 

less than live up to his ideals. 

A TRIBUTE TO MARSHAN MASON 

GAINER 

HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to pay tribute and to honor Marshan Mason 

Gainer. Ms. Gainer began her career as a 

public high school teacher in Washington, 

D.C. after receiving her BA degree in English 

and Secondary Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia and an MA 

from the Catholic University of America in 

Washington, DC. 

Ms. Gainer, in her 30-year career, has been 

responsible for the development and implementation of sales and management training 

and the design of multi-media and computerbased training programs. She has administered assessment centers and conducted 

training programs throughout the United 

States and abroad. Her areas of responsibility 

also cover all phases of human resource management for staff located worldwide. 

Before retiring from her position as Vice 

President of management services for Save 

the Children (a relief and development organization operating in 40 countries), Ms. Gainer 

was responsible for developing and implementing human resource policies and programs for the more than 2,500 staff members 

in the headquarters, field and overseas offices. A worldwide traveler, Ms. Gainer has 

visited countries on five continents. Her adventures also included stops in almost every 

state in America. 

Ms. Gainer is an active member of the 

Prince Hall Order Eastern Star and its affiliate 

groups. She has held several offices, chaired 

many committees, and was most recently the 

Grand Worthy Matron of Eureka Grand Chapter, Prince Hall Order Eastern Star Inc., State 

of New York. 

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize 

Marshan Mason Gainer for her extraordinary 

accomplishments on behalf of children across 

the world. 

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 

join me in paying tribute to Marshan Mason 

Gainer. 

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TRIBUTE TO MR. JAMES 

BABATUNDE ADEGBOYE 

HON. CORRINE BROWN OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam 

Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man who 

stood in the forefront of helping to propel his 

countrymen to a sense of moral and ethical 

courage through the giving and sharing of 

one’s talents for the good of the society in 

which he lived On behalf of the people of the 

great State of Florida, I stand today to recognize the personal and professional accomplishments of a man who loved his country 

and his family, and gave unselfishly of his time 

and talents to make a better place for all. 

Mr. James Babatunde Adegboye, a great 

family man and a financial expert passed on 

November 26, 2008, at the University of Florida & Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.