SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 13
         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 Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
  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 from
  the Texas Senate.
 
 
  Miles
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on October 12, 2023.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate