Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he was the Guest of Honor at a reception yesterday for the 2007 Asian-Pacific American Presidential Scholars held at the Department Of Education.  The reception was organized by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing the civilian and military Asian Pacific American employees in the Federal and District of Columbia governments.  The event was attended by Asian-Pacific Presidential Scholars from around the DC area as well as their families.

Faleomavaega addressed the Presidential Scholars and challenged them to make the United States a better place.

“I want to congratulate all of the award recipients and especially our Presidential Scholars from the Asia-Pacific community,” Faleomavaega said.  “The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our Nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors.  Through hard work and dedication to their studies these students have earned these scholarships and I wish them the very best in their future endeavors.  I expect nothing less than the best from this group.”

“I also want to commend and thank FAPAC for their efforts in putting the reception together,” Faleomavaega continued.  “I hope this will become an annual event.  It is of the utmost importance that we celebrate the achievements of our young people and show the world that children from the Asia-Pacific community can succeed in education.”

“The students had the opportunity to meet with the President and to tour the White House and the Capitol.  The 141 students named annually as Presidential Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people.  I am pleased to see that children whose ancestries with roots in the Asia-Pacific region are very well represented in that group,” Faleomavaega concluded.