Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sophie C. Wong.
Dr. Sophie C. Wong was the first Asian American to serve on the Alhambra School Board. Elected in 1990, Dr. Wong has held to her commitment to preserve and advance the quality of education for all students. Among her many achievements as a Board Member, Dr. Wong was the founder of the Alhambra School District Educational Foundation, co-founder of the Human Relations Advisory Committee, and founder of the Asian American Association of the Alhambra School District.
Immigrating to the United States in 1956, Dr. Wong has been a resident and homeowner in Monterey Park since 1961. Dr. Wong is married to Mr. Norman J. Wong and is the mother of two daughters, Cheryl and Debbi. Dr. Wong also has one granddaughter, Blythe.
Since 1996, Dr. Wong has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chinese for Christ Calvin Chao Theological Seminary in Alhambra, California. The seminary is a professional graduate school for Christian leaders, pastors and missionaries. On August 7, 1985, the Seminary received authorization from the State of California to grant M.A., M.Div., D.Min., and Ph.D. degrees, making it the first Chinese seminary to be authorized by the State to grant a Ph.D. degree.
In addition to being an active and important member of her community, Dr. Wong is a successful entrepreneur. She is the president of Sophie C. Wong & Associates, a business development, management, real estate, marketing and public relations firm, which matches people with business opportunities, She is also the co-founder, director, chief financial officer and past chairman of Golden Security Bank since 1982. Dr. Wong was named one of "ten Important Power Brokers and Emerging Leaders in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California'' in the December 1997 issue of the Los Angeles Business Journal. In 1986 and again in 1996, Dr. Wong was elected to the White House Conference on Small Businesses.
It is with pleasure that I ask all Members to join with me in congratulating the Honorable Sophie C. Wong for her accomplishments on behalf of the students and staff of the Alhambra School District as well as her leadership in numerous activities in the community.