Silvestre Reyes

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Angel Gomez for selfless service to our community. He has helped thousands of people through his non-profit, Operation HOPE (Helping Other People Endure).

Selfless doesn't even begin to describe Angel Gomez.

Many lives have been touched by Angel, an appropriate name for a man with a heart the size of Texas.

A native of El Paso, Texas, he is a proud Bowie Bear Alumni and Veteran, having attended Bowie High School and later joining the United States Navy.

His real passion, other than serving his country in uniform, has always been helping others in need.

In 1995 he began volunteering his time to the community, with the support of his wife Patricia, daughter Rubi and other family members.

Seeing the growing need around him, he co-founded Operation HOPE in 2009, and he has invested his time and resources to help the El Paso community he loves so much.

Operation HOPE has allowed Angel to share his vision of community outreach with thousands of people in need. He works with community partners and volunteers who share the same values and passion for giving, and these relationships have made it possible to multiply his efforts to improve our community.

Over the past seventeen years, El Pasoans in need have received food baskets during the holidays, along with blankets, clothing, and medical supplies. Sick children who must spend much of their childhood in the hospital have received toys and gift baskets to lift their spirits. Hundreds of individuals with disabilities have received assistance with medical supplies, medications, durable medical equipment, and accessible ramps. And many families have received assistance with funeral expenses and spiritual support during their time of need.

Not only has his work brought tangible assistance to those in need, but behind each action is also something intangible, something money can't buy: hope.

On behalf of the El Paso community, I would like to thank Angel Gomez for all he has done for those in need and for the positive impact he continues to have in our community. He has restored our community's faith in the good that can be done by simply caring.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Angel Gomez for selfless service to our community. He has helped thousands of people through his non-profit, Operation HOPE Helping Other People Endure.

Selfless doesn't even begin to describe Angel Gomez.

Many lives have been touched by Angel, an appropriate name for a man with a heart the size of Texas.

A native of El Paso, Texas, he attended Bowie High School and later joined the United States Navy. He is a proud Bowie Bear Alumni and Veteran.

His real passion, other than serving his county in uniform, has always been helping others in need.

In 1995 he began volunteering his time to the community, with the support of his wife Patricia, daughter Rubi and other family members.

Seeing the growing need around him he co-founded Operation HOPE in 2009, and he has invested even more time and resources to help the El Paso Community he loves so much.

Operation HOPE has allowed Angel to share his vision of community outreach with thousands of people in need. He works with community partners and volunteers who share the same values and passion for giving, and these relationships have made it possible to multiply his efforts to improve our community.

Over the past seventeen years, El Paso residents have received food baskets during the holidays, along with blankets, clothing, and medical supplies. Hospitalized children that were hospitalized have received toys and gift baskets to lift their spirits. Hundreds of persons with disabilities have received assistance with medical supplies, medications, durable medical equipment, and accessible ramps. And families have received assistance with funeral expenses and spiritual support during their time of need.

To others, the donated items and arrangements made may not seem like much, but behind each action is something intangible, something money can't buy: hope.

On behalf of the El Paso community, I would like to thank Angel Gomez for all he has done for those in need and for the positive impact he continues to have in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the achievements and success of two programs at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). The Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program and the Reverse Transfer Program are being recognized by Excelencia in Education.

Excelencia in Education focuses on accelerating success for Latino students at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. Since 2005, Excelencia has honored programs and departments at the cutting edge of increasing and improving academic achievement for Latinos.

UTEP's Reverse Transfer Program, honored by Excelencia as a finalist, allows transfer students to earn their final credits at UTEP, and then have those credits sent back to El Paso Community College to fulfill the balance of the associate degree requirement. This program increases the graduation rates at El Paso Community College, and increases UTEP's retention rate, Which results in improving access to higher education for all students.

UTEP's Master of Business Administration Program, honored by Excelencia as an awardee, serves over 400 students from more than 20 countries from a variety of backgrounds. The MBA program was recognized for the third year in a row as the number one program for Hispanics in the Nation by the Hispanic Business Magazine. The program reflects Excelencia in Education by blending quality graduate education and affordability.

I want to personally congratulate UTEP's Master of Business Administration and Reverse Transfer programs for their recognition, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of faculty, administration, and students. I look forward to the continued success of UTEP, and I am honored to represent this outstanding institution.