News from Congresswoman Jane Harman

Congresswoman Jane harman - Press Release

May 28, 2002

HARMAN PRESENTS FIRST JIM ARMSTRONG SCHOLARSHIP

-- "As teacher, council member, mayor, and citizen, he exemplified the
highest standard of community leadership and public service" -

TORRANCE - After addressing Torrance High School Government and Civics students about her role in Congress, Representative Harman presented the first Jim Armstrong Scholarship to senior Deanne Ting.

Armstrong, a former Torrance mayor and popular high school civics teacher, died January 4th of complications from a chronic heart ailment.

The scholarship was established as a memorial through the Torrance Education Foundation. The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded each year to a high school senior in the Torrance Unified School District planning to attend a two or four year college or vocational school who exemplifies Armstrong's commitment to public service.

From left to right: former Torrance mayor Dee Hardison, Deanna King, Rep. Harman & Ann Armstrong

Ting, who is currently deciding between several University of California campuses, hopes to pursue a career in publishing.

With Armstrong's widow Ann looking on, Harman spoke to the students about her close friendship with Armstrong, saying, "We are here to honor Deanne Ting, but we are also here to honor Jim Armstrong. Jim Armstrong helped me in every campaign and served as a member of my advisory committee on public education. He called himself a 'Harman man,' and I was clearly an 'Armstrong woman.' As teacher, council member, mayor, and citizen, Jim Armstrong exemplified the highest standard of community leadership and public service. While Jim's work can be seen in buildings and parks across Torrance, his true legacy lies in the generations of students he inspired as a teacher. Countless students he taught have since pursued careers in which they too serve the community. Jim Armstrong was always about integrity. He knew that what you take out of politics is what you bring to it - the kind of person you are."

Harman also spoke about her role in Congress, and encouraged the students to run for office someday, saying, "Dreams don't just come true - you have to pursue them. And if you dream big, you can become a future member of Congress from the South Bay."

Former mayor of Torrance Dee Hardison, Tom Martin, Field Representative for LA County Supervisor Don Knabe, and David Ford, Senior Field Representative for State Assemblyman George Nakano, also participated in the event and shared with the students their own memories of Armstrong and personal experiences in government.

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Honoring Jim Armstrong as Man of the Year (09.19.96)