Announcements

The following letter was received from Rod Paige, Secretary of Education for the United States Department of Education, to congratulate APU on the recent dedication of the John and Marilyn Duke Academic Complex:

I am very pleased to send best wishes on the dedication of the John and Marilyn Duke Academic Complex at Azusa Pacific University. The opening of a new facility is a wonderful event in the life of a university community.

This is an exciting time for education. Never has the issue of providing our nation’s young people the best education possible received the attention it is receiving now. Americans have become increasingly aware that the quality of education offered in our country directly affects all of us. President Bush and I believe education is the path to achievement, and that all Americans should have opportunities to pursue the American dream.

As you reflect on the generations of students who have been served by this institution, and the generations who will pass through the doors of this new complex, I would ask that you also consider the importance of early and ongoing preparation for such study. Last year, the President signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law, opening a new era in American education. We must do everything we can to ensure that no child is left behind, and that every young person has the opportunity to achieve academically. Institutions like Azusa Pacific University, with traditions of community involvement and academic excellence, can contribute greatly to this reform effort. The combination of dedicated administrators, faculty, staff, and alumni is a powerful force for achieving educational excellence and for motivating our young people to learn, grow, and serve. Working together, we can provide a solid foundation for students to go on to college, and to graduate and continue with professional work.

Please accept my best wishes for success as the Duke Academic Complex assumes its role in the learning environment of Azusa Pacific University, and contributes to the mission of the university. Thank you for your commitment to the young people of this Nation and the future they will shape.

Rod Paige
The Secretary of Education
United States Department of Education
Washington, DC