By: Zaffirini S.R. No. 215
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Texas Senate is proud to recognize the Texas
1-3 Prefreshman Engineering Program, "TexPREP," as an outstanding
1-4 educational program that has made a significant contribution to
1-5 the continued well-being of this state by its remarkable record
1-6 of achievement in preparing thousands of young Texans for
1-7 successful careers in science and engineering; and
1-8 WHEREAS, Bringing to fruition the vision of founder
1-9 Dr. Manuel P. Berriozabal, a professor of mathematics at
1-10 The University of Texas at San Antonio, TexPREP began in the
1-11 summer of 1979 as a collaborative effort on the part of
1-12 The University of Texas at San Antonio, Saint Philip's College,
1-13 Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, Incarnate Word College,
1-14 Our Lady of the Lake University, Saint Mary's University, and
1-15 Trinity University; and
1-16 WHEREAS, These eight institutions have joined forces to
1-17 conduct a summer program for high-achieving Texas middle school
1-18 and high school students who have demonstrated ability in science
1-19 and engineering classes; the program is intended not only to
1-20 identify such students but also to provide the academic
1-21 reinforcement they would need to pursue successful college careers
1-22 in mathematics, science, and engineering studies; and
1-23 WHEREAS, Beginning with a group of 50 students in its first
2-1 year, the program confirmed Dr. Berriozabal's beliefs from the
2-2 start that students, when appropriately challenged to work hard and
2-3 achieve in a rigorous academic environment, would rise to the
2-4 occasion and fulfill their potential for success; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Each succeeding year continued to bear out the
2-6 growing program's high expectations, reaching an increasing number
2-7 of students, gaining greater recognition within the educational
2-8 community, and achieving statewide status as TexPREP; since 1986,
2-9 this remarkably successful concept has been replicated at colleges
2-10 and universities throughout the state, with courses offered at such
2-11 diverse institutions as Amarillo College, Huston-Tillotson College,
2-12 The University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas A&M University,
2-13 Del Mar College, Texas Woman's University in Dallas,
2-14 The University of Texas-Pan American, The University of Texas
2-15 at El Paso, the University of Houston-Downtown, Laredo State
2-16 University, and Texas Tech University; and
2-17 WHEREAS, During the past decade and a half, literally
2-18 thousands of students, many of them women and minorities who
2-19 traditionally have been underrepresented in science and engineering
2-20 fields, have completed at least one summer in TexPREP and gone on
2-21 to meet with subsequent success at colleges and universities across
2-22 the state and nation; in 1992, the program admitted an estimated
2-23 2,700 students in its academically intense and demanding eight-week
2-24 programs of classroom and laboratory studies and graduated 2,213
2-25 students; and
3-1 WHEREAS, In addition to deserving the widespread accolades it
3-2 has garnered for the level of success it has attained in enabling
3-3 thousands of young men and women to realize their potential, TexPREP
3-4 also is deserving of praise and recognition for its outstanding
3-5 public service in reaching out to members of the community who,
3-6 because of economic disadvantage or lack of encouragement, otherwise
3-7 would be unable to pursue higher education, much less entertain
3-8 hopes of careers in these fields; and
3-9 WHEREAS, The people of Texas ultimately are the greatest
3-10 beneficiaries of successful academic programs such as TexPREP, and
3-11 the members of this legislative body wish to join our fellow Texans
3-12 in expressing appreciation for the efforts of every teacher, student,
3-13 administrator, institution, and community involved in this worthy
3-14 endeavor; now, therefore, be it
3-15 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-16 73rd Legislature, hereby honor the Texas Prefreshman Engineering
3-17 Program for its outstanding record of success in preparing the
3-18 coming generation of Texas scientists and engineers and commend the
3-19 program for its efforts to provide greater academic opportunities
3-20 for all the citizens of this state; and, be it further
3-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared
3-22 for the TexPREP coordinator, Dr. Manuel P. Berriozabal, as an
3-23 expression of high esteem from the Texas Senate.
3-24 _____________________________________
3-25 President of the Senate
4-1 I hereby certify that the
4-2 above Resolution was adopted by
4-3 the Senate on February 11, 1993.
4-4 _____________________________________
4-5 Secretary of the Senate
4-6 _____________________________________
4-7 Member, Texas Senate