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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Shirley A. Reed of Mission is being honored as |
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the 2007 Border Texan of the Year by the BorderFest Association at |
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its annual cultural festival; and |
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WHEREAS, The founding president of South Texas College, Dr. |
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Reed was chosen for this significant honor because of her |
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commitment to providing access to higher education to residents of |
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the Rio Grande Valley; the school she leads was created in 1993 to |
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serve the people of Starr and Hidalgo Counties; and |
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WHEREAS, During her tenure with STC, Dr. Reed has been |
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instrumental in increasing the student population from 1,050 when |
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the school opened to more than 18,000 per semester today; with STC |
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currently enjoying one of the fastest growth rates of all two-year |
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colleges in the country, its enrollment is expected to exceed |
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23,000 in five years' time; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Reed has also led two successful bond campaigns, |
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which together have secured $118.7 million for campus construction; |
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the school presently encompasses five campuses and centers, offers |
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some 90 degree and certification programs, employs approximately |
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1,500 area Texans as faculty and staff, and has an annual operating |
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budget of $87 million; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Dr. Reed's leadership, STC has received |
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commendation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
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for its management of enrollment growth, responsiveness to the |
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needs of the community, and use of technology; it has recently |
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received the authority to offer the bachelor of applied technology |
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degree to its students; and |
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WHEREAS, South Texas College is ranked nationally as the top |
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two-year college for Hispanic students by the Hispanic Association |
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of Colleges and Universities; the school is also recognized as one |
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of the leading institutions in the country in terms of the number of |
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associate degrees it confers; in 2005, Community College Week |
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ranked STC 3rd in awarding associate degrees to Hispanics, 5th in |
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awarding associate degrees in education, and 12th in awarding |
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associate degrees to minorities; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to its academic programs, STC has |
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established the Partnership for Workforce Training and Continuing |
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Education in order to provide educational programs and |
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opportunities to more than 35,000 residents in the surrounding |
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community who are seeking to upgrade their skills, change careers, |
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or take noncredit classes for personal enrichment; and |
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WHEREAS, Through her annual $1,000 Presidential |
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Inspirational Achievement Award, Dr. Reed recognizes students who |
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exhibit courage, fortitude, and determination in the face of |
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seemingly insurmountable odds, while serving as a role model for |
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the campus community; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan began her own undergraduate |
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education as a student at St. Petersburg Junior College, where she |
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earned an associate's degree in liberal arts; subsequently she |
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received a bachelor's degree in English education from the |
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University of South Florida, a master's degree in library science |
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from the University of Hawaii, an MBA in international business |
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administration from Western International University, and a |
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doctoral degree in higher education administration from Illinois |
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State University; and |
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WHEREAS, Her professional affiliations reflect her |
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dedication to community and minority education; they include the |
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American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Academic, |
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Student, and Community Development, the Texas Association of |
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Community Colleges, and the Hispanic Association for Colleges and |
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Universities; Dr. Reed also serves on the advisory committees of |
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the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas |
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Association of Community Colleges; and |
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WHEREAS, Possessed of a far-reaching vision for South Texas |
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College and an unwavering commitment to opening the doors to higher |
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education for the people of the Rio Grande Valley, Dr. Shirley Reed |
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has built a nationally recognized institution from the ground up |
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and helped countless area residents to achieve their dreams of a |
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better life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Shirley A. Reed for being named |
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the 2007 Border Texan of the Year by the BorderFest Association and |
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extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Reed as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |