Elaine Chao graduated Syosset High School in 1971. She was involved in her class as she was a member of the field hockey team, theater club and yearbook committee, but her past teachers described her as quiet. They never expected that 30 years later, Chao would be back visiting her alma mater as the United States Secretary of Labor.

Chao was honored as the first inductee into the Syosset High School Alumni Honor Roll of Distinction on Nov. 22 at Syosset High School. She returned to her alma mater, Syosset High School last Friday accepting an invitation from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carole G. Hankin. Chao took a tour of the school, attended a reception in her honor and addressed the student body.

Chao is the nation's 24th Secretary of Labor, representing a new generation of American leadership. Since her confirmation by the United States Senate on January 29, 2001, she has been dedicated to carrying out the Department of Labor's mission of inspiring and protecting the hardworking people of America.

When President George W. Bush nominated Chao, the first Asian-American woman appointed to a president's cabinet in U.S. history, he described her as an individual with "strong executive talent, compassion, and commitment to helping people build better lives."

Chao is being given the high school's first Alumni Award of Distinction at a reception attended by the board of education, District administrators and principals, PTA representatives, teacher representatives, student representatives and local elected officials.

"Our students are very excited about Ms. Chao's visit," said Hankin, who said that there are still 16 employees on Syosset's payroll from when Chao was a student 31 years ago. "It's certainly inspiring for them to meet a member of the U.S Cabinet who previously walked the same halls and attended classes in the same rooms as they do now. The district and the high school have had great growth since Ms. Chao attended school here, where she was an editor of the school yearbook and also an athlete on the field hockey team. We are extremely honored to have her here and are looking forward to showing her some of the exciting programs we have."

Chao was joined on her tour by her parents Dr. James Chao and Ruth Chao, her sisters May, who is the Chairperson of the New York State Consumer Protection Board, Angela and Grace and her husband Gordon and their daughter Alexia.

During her tour, Chao visited a class where Grace Cleaver, nee Steinhauser, was teaching a multi-media class to high school students. Chao had Cleaver, then Steinhauser, for shorthand when she was in high school.

"She was a very quiet student, but she worked very hard" said Cleaver regarding her memory of Chao. "She left a mark in my mind. I have taught a lot of students in the last 30 years, but she stood out."

Chao and her entourage stopped next at the library where students were spending their free period, studying, reading and surfing the Internet. Chao visited with some of the students to find out more about what they are studying.

While Chao was on her tour of the high school, representatives of the community, faculty, administration, local government and students waited for her at her homecoming luncheon celebration. A student string quartet entertained guests as they anticipated Chao's arrival. Once she arrived, Jonathan Ross, a Syosset High School student serenaded Chao and the audience with his award-winning voice.

"This welcoming home is a person's dream when they come back to high school," said Chao. "I'm very impressed with this stellar school. You have magic here."

After the luncheon, Chao moved to the auditorium to address the students. "When I attended high school, I'd say I was kind of shy. I worried about being accepted, whether I was wearing the right clothes and how I looked. I didn't have to worry about dating - my parents didn't let me. I didn't go to the prom - I wasn't asked. And you know what? It didn't matter in the long run," she said in her speech.

She explained to the students that when she was five years old, her parents made the decision to come to America from Taiwan. Her father James went first and the rest of the family had to wait three years to come until her dad saved enough money.

Chao, along with her mother and sisters, made the journey to America on a freighter because the airfare was too expensive. The ocean journey took 30 days.

The Chao family lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Queens. Only James spoke English and he worked three jobs to support the family. "Because we were new to America, everything was a challenge. Things that most of us now would take for granted seemed so frightening."

"I've never forgotten those days of being newcomers to this country and how hard it was to find information about anything," she said. "Those early lessons have served me well in being the Secretary of Labor where I want to empower people to find new pathways to economic independence and self-sufficiency."

After leaving Syosset schools, Secretary Chao received her M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and her undergraduate degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College. She also studied at MIT, Dartmouth College, and Columbia University. Active in many volunteer activities, Secretary Chao has received numerous awards for her professional accomplishments and community service. She is the recipient of fifteen honorary doctoral degrees from colleges and universities across the country.

Secretary Chao is married to United States Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. "I am enormously grateful that my parents chose to live in Syosset where the school district has long been famed for being so outstanding," she said.