H.R. No. 1799

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Dr. Manuel P. Berriozabal has been named a recipient of the Innovations in Education Award from The University of Texas System; and

WHEREAS, Supported by the UT System Chancellor's Council, the Innovations in Education Award honors faculty members who institute creative educational efforts; Dr. Berriozabal's renowned work makes him a fitting choice for this award, which is being presented for the first time in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Manuel Berriozabal has been a college mathematics educator for 50 years and taught at Loyola University of Los Angeles, the University of California, Los Angeles, Tulane University, and the University of New Orleans before arriving at The University of Texas at San Antonio in 1976; for more than three decades, this inspired professor has been a valued member of the UT San Antonio faculty and has greatly contributed to the university's educational mission; and

WHEREAS, Of his many accomplishments, Dr. Berriozabal is best known for creating the Pre-Freshman Engineering Program, or PREP, in 1979 and guiding its development in the following decades; focusing its efforts on minorities, PREP is a summer enrichment program for middle school and high school students that helps prepare them for college-level studies in science and engineering; and

WHEREAS, The success of Dr. Berriozabal's program led to its expansion to other sites in Texas, where it is known as TexPREP, and to eight other U.S. states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, where it is known as Projecto Access; in founding this groundbreaking initiative and in serving as executive director of the San Antonio and Projecto Access programs, Dr. Berriozabal has helped thousands of young people to enhance their knowledge and prepare themselves for success as college students and professionals; and

WHEREAS, Highly respected for his expertise in mathematics and science education, Dr. Berriozabal has participated in a long list of other educational initiatives over the years; to name but a few of his more recent responsibilities, he has participated in a focus group for the Governor's Math Initiative, been part of a national blue-ribbon panel for the Building Engineering and Science Talent organization, and served on a number of awards committees that recognize the abilities of young scholars; in addition, he has shared his views as an invited speaker at conferences and meetings all around the country; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Berriozabal is a prominent figure in many professional organizations and has been honored with a variety of prestigious accolades, including being named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2001, receiving the Yueh-Gin Gung and Charles Y. Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics from the Mathematical Association of America, and being inducted as one of the charter members of the Texas Science Hall of Fame; moreover, the San Antonio PREP and TexPREP programs have earned numerous national and local commendations; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious career, Manuel Berriozabal has made use of his immense talents as a mathematician to assist students in attaining their own academic and professional success, and his achievements truly merit special recognition and praise; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Manuel P. Berriozabal on receiving the Innovations in Education Award from The University of Texas System and commend him for his many contributions and accomplishments; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Berriozabal as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Villarreal

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1799 was adopted by the House on May 4, 2007, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House