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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Howard College president Dr. Cheryl Sparks |
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celebrated her 70th birthday on November 9, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, Born and raised in Big Spring, Cheryl Sparks |
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attended The University of Texas at El Paso and Howard College |
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before going on to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree from |
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Texas Tech University, where she also completed her doctorate in |
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higher education; early in her career, she served Howard College in |
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such positions as dean of students, vice president for |
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institutional advancement, and assistant to the president; she was |
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appointed president by the board of trustees in 1992, becoming only |
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the second female community college president in the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Sparks now ranks as the longest-serving |
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community college president in Texas; she guides campuses in Big |
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Spring, Lamesa, and San Angelo, as well as the SouthWest College for |
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the Deaf; over the years, she has served higher education in myriad |
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leadership roles, including chair of the Rural Community College |
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Alliance and of the Texas Association of Community Colleges |
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telecommunications committee; she has been a member of the |
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executive committee of the Texas Association of Community Colleges |
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and of the boards of numerous organizations, among them the Texas |
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Association of Community College Trustees and Administrators, the |
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Texas Association of Community College Foundations, and the Texas |
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Junior College Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly engaged in civic life, Dr. Sparks has |
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benefited her fellow residents through her efforts as president of |
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the Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce, board chair of Scenic |
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Mountain Medical Center, and member of the boards of such |
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organizations as the Big Spring Rotary Club, United Way of Big |
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Spring and Howard County, the Dora Roberts Rehabilitation Center, |
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and the YMCA; she earned the Service Above Self Award from Rotary |
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International, and she was named 1992 Big Spring Area Chamber of |
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Commerce Woman of the Year and 2005 Distinguished Woman of Howard |
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County; and |
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WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Dr. Sparks enjoys the support |
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of a loving family that includes her husband, John Richard Sparks, |
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her son, J. Rich Sparks, and his wife, Sarah, and two grandchildren, |
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Jenson and Lindley; and |
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WHEREAS, Cheryl Sparks has played a vital role in advancing |
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the proud legacy of Howard College, and her professional |
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accomplishments and civic contributions have earned the lasting |
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admiration of her fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Cheryl |
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Sparks on her 70th birthday and commend her for her service as |
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president of Howard College; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Sparks as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |