88S30672 BK-D
 
  By: A. Johnson of Harris H.R. No. 22
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, October 12, 2023, marks the 111th anniversary of
  Rice University's formal opening ceremonies, an event that is
  commemorated annually as Rice Day; and
         WHEREAS, On October 12, 1912, students, faculty, and trustees
  of the Rice Institute gathered alongside local and state officials
  and dignitaries from governments and universities around the world
  to celebrate the establishment of a new institution of higher
  learning; in his address, President Edgar Odell Lovett announced
  that Rice would "aspire to university standing of the highest
  grade," while proposing "to assign no upper limit to its
  educational endeavor"; and
         WHEREAS, Since that historic day, Rice has grown tremendously
  in enrollment and academic stature; in recognition of the changing
  and broadening scope of its educational mission, its name was
  changed to William Marsh Rice University on July 1, 1960; today, it
  is a globally oriented, private institution that boasts an
  impressive 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and it
  consistently ranks highly among private universities for best
  quality of life and best value; it is further recognized as one of
  the most diverse private universities, with more than a quarter of
  students classified as minorities and more than 60 countries
  represented in its undergraduate and graduate student bodies; and
         WHEREAS, Rice holds membership in the Association of American
  Universities, an organization consisting of North America's 71
  leading research universities; its faculty and alumni have made
  significant contributions in numerous fields, and alumni have
  notably gone on to win the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize, and
  Olympic gold medals, to set records for human spaceflight, to win
  Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Awards, and to serve in offices as prominent
  as lieutenant governor of Texas; they have helped found such Lone
  Star institutions as Austin City Limits and the Texas Film
  Commission and have made their mark in countless other areas of
  endeavor that have enriched our state and nation; and
         WHEREAS, The achievements of Rice University and its alumni
  have helped to keep Texas at the forefront of research,
  scholarship, and innovation, and the observance of Rice Day
  provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on the long and
  distinguished history of one of our state's most venerated
  educational institutions; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
  Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize October 12,
  2023, as Rice Day and extend sincere best wishes to the university's
  students, faculty, staff, and alumni as they celebrate the 111th
  anniversary of Rice's historic opening ceremonies; and, be it
  further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for the university as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.