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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of El Paso lost an admired champion for |
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educational opportunity with the death of Ricardo V. Aranda on |
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April 5, 2021, at the age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, Ricardo Aranda was born in El Paso to Alfredo and |
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Juana Aranda on August 18, 1941; answering his nation's call to |
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duty, he served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army from 1964 |
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to 1966; and |
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WHEREAS, The first person in his family to attend college, |
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Mr. Aranda was a lifelong advocate for higher education, dedicating |
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himself to expanding access for students in the region; in the early |
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1970s, he was the director of El Paso's Educational Talent Search, |
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where he worked to identify and assist young people from |
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disadvantaged backgrounds in their efforts to receive a |
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postsecondary education; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1976, Mr. Aranda joined the staff of The |
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University of Texas at El Paso as assistant director of financial |
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aid, and over the course of his 30 years with UTEP, he rose to become |
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director of financial aid and assistant vice president of student |
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affairs; in 1986, he organized FAFSA Nights, a series of evening |
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workshops hosted by financial aid officers and volunteers at local |
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schools, in order to assist students in filling out their Free |
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Application for Federal Student Aid; this initiative helped El Paso |
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to achieve the highest FAFSA completion rates in the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Aranda further distinguished himself by |
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developing a training program for area high school counselors that |
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included an annual workshop and a summer internship for hands-on |
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experience; he also served as a mentor to numerous younger |
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financial aid professionals, many of whom have gone on to |
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leadership positions in the field; in recognition of his tireless |
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efforts over a lifetime, his family established the Ricardo V. |
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Aranda Memorial Endowed Scholarship at UTEP; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his exceptional contributions, Ricardo |
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Aranda made a lasting, positive impact in the El Paso community, and |
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he leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire all those |
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who were fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Ricardo V. Aranda |
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and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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daughter, Barbara Anne Pierce, and her husband, Alan; to his |
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brother, Hector Aranda; to his companion of 19 years, Esther |
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Barragan; to his grandchildren, Ashley and Robbie; to his |
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great-grandchildren, Liam, Cody, Alysia, and Gabriela; and to his |
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many other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ricardo V. |
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Aranda. |