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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 172
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WHEREAS, Joan Higginbotham is contributing to the |
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long-term progress and prosperity of this great nation by serving |
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as a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
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(NASA) astronaut corps; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Chicago, Joan Higginbotham began her |
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career in 1987 at the Kennedy Space Center after earning a |
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bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Southern Illinois |
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University at Carbondale; she quickly proved herself a talented |
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engineer and an astute leader, and by the end of her nine-year |
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tenure at the center, she had participated in more than 50 space |
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shuttle launches; moreover, she obtained master's degrees |
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in management and space systems from the Florida Institute of |
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Technology; and |
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WHEREAS, Joan was selected to join the NASA astronaut corps |
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in April of 1996; she reported to the Johnson Space Center that |
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same year, and since then, she has completed intensive training |
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and gained vital experience in various branches of the agency; in |
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December of 2006, she completed her first space flight as a crew |
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member of shuttle mission STS-116, on which she served as mission |
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specialist; considered one of NASA's most complex missions, |
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STS-116 was charged with rewiring the space station, and for her |
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part, Mission Specialist Higginbotham successfully operated |
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the robotic arm and oversaw the transfer of equipment from the |
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shuttle to the station; and |
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WHEREAS, This highly regarded professional credits much |
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of her success to the encouragement she received early on from |
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her parents, and today she serves as a motivational speaker for |
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young people; throughout her career, she has earned numerous |
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honors, and she is the recipient of a prestigious NASA Exceptional |
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Service Medal; and |
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WHEREAS, Joan Higginbotham is dedicated to advancing |
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science, technology, and human potential through space exploration |
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and research, and she indeed merits the admiration of her fellow |
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citizens for her remarkable service on behalf of this nation; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, |
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80th Legislature, hereby commend Joan Higginbotham on her exemplary |
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service to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and |
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extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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her as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. |
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West |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 6, 2007. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |