| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Howard College president Dr. Cheryl Sparks |
|
|
celebrated her 70th birthday on November 9, 2023; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Big Spring, Cheryl Sparks |
|
|
attended The University of Texas at El Paso and Howard College |
|
|
before going on to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree from |
|
|
Texas Tech University, where she also completed her doctorate in |
|
|
higher education; early in her career, she served Howard College in |
|
|
such positions as dean of students, vice president for |
|
|
institutional advancement, and assistant to the president; she was |
|
|
appointed president by the board of trustees in 1992, becoming only |
|
|
the second female community college president in the state; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Sparks now ranks as the longest-serving |
|
|
community college president in Texas; she guides campuses in Big |
|
|
Spring, Lamesa, and San Angelo, as well as the SouthWest College for |
|
|
the Deaf; over the years, she has served higher education in myriad |
|
|
leadership roles, including chair of the Rural Community College |
|
|
Alliance and of the Texas Association of Community Colleges |
|
|
telecommunications committee; she has been a member of the |
|
|
executive committee of the Texas Association of Community Colleges |
|
|
and of the boards of numerous organizations, among them the Texas |
|
|
Association of Community College Trustees and Administrators, the |
|
|
Texas Association of Community College Foundations, and the Texas |
|
|
Junior College Association; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Highly engaged in civic life, Dr. Sparks has |
|
|
benefited her fellow residents through her efforts as president of |
|
|
the Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce, board chair of Scenic |
|
|
Mountain Medical Center, and member of the boards of such |
|
|
organizations as the Big Spring Rotary Club, United Way of Big |
|
|
Spring and Howard County, the Dora Roberts Rehabilitation Center, |
|
|
and the YMCA; she earned the Service Above Self Award from Rotary |
|
|
International, and she was named 1992 Big Spring Area Chamber of |
|
|
Commerce Woman of the Year and 2005 Distinguished Woman of Howard |
|
|
County; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Dr. Sparks enjoys the support |
|
|
of a loving family that includes her husband, John Richard Sparks, |
|
|
her son, J. Rich Sparks, and his wife, Sarah, and two grandchildren, |
|
|
Jenson and Lindley; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Cheryl Sparks has played a vital role in advancing |
|
|
the proud legacy of Howard College, and her professional |
|
|
accomplishments and civic contributions have earned the lasting |
|
|
admiration of her fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Cheryl |
|
|
Sparks on her 70th birthday and commend her for her service as |
|
|
president of Howard College; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Dr. Sparks as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Darby |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 94 was adopted by the House on |
|
|
December 5, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |