SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 322

WHEREAS, Manuel Benavidez, Jr., of Rio Grande City received the 2006 Western Region Trustee Leadership Award from the Association of Community College Trustees at the organization's Annual Community College Leadership Congress in Orlando, Florida, on October 12, 2006; and

WHEREAS, A founding member of the board of trustees of South Texas College in McAllen, Mr. Benavidez was appointed by Governor Ann Richards at the time of the college's founding in 1993 to represent Starr County in the creation of a new community college for South Texas; he was elected to a six-year term as trustee in 2000 and was reelected in 2006; and

WHEREAS, His work as a member of the board of trustees has included serving as the board's chair, vice chair, and secretary; he has also chaired the Facilities Committee and served on the Education and Workforce Committee; and

WHEREAS, A staunch advocate for the growth of South Texas College, Mr. Benavidez was instrumental in helping the college pass a $98.7 million bond for the expansion of its five campuses; he was also instrumental in making the college one of three Texas community colleges to offer a bachelor of applied technology degree; at the Summit on College Readiness in February of 2006, he opened the event by addressing 150 educators, business leaders, and government officials on the need to prepare students for higher education; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Benavidez has been active in promoting community college education in general; his testimony before the Texas Legislature advocating allowing eligible high school students to attend college-level technical classes while still in high school helped to ensure enactment of such legislation; he served on the Association of Community College Trustees' board of directors from 2003 to 2005 and chaired its Diversity Committee during that same period; he has also been the Western Region representative for the Association of Latino Community College Trustees; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Benavidez was recognized at the Association of Community College Trustees' Annual Congress in 2005 with the Lifetime Membership Award for his leadership on the issues of diversity and equal opportunity; he has been an indispensable participant in the improvement of educational opportunities in Starr County and in the growth and success of South Texas College, and he is most deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 80th Legislature, hereby congratulate Manuel Benavidez, Jr., on receiving the 2006 Western Region Trustee Leadership Award from the Association of Community College Trustees and extend to him best wishes for his continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mr. Benavidez as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Zaffirini

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 26, 2007.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate