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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A group from St. Mary's University has gathered in |
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the chamber on this day, February 11, 2009, and their visit to the |
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Capitol offers a welcome opportunity to honor this respected |
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liberal arts institution; and |
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WHEREAS, The oldest university in San Antonio and the oldest |
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Catholic university in Texas, St. Mary's was established by |
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Marianist brothers and priests in 1852; its 135-acre campus |
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northwest of downtown is home to a diverse student body with a |
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current enrollment of approximately 4,000, and a 13-1 |
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student-to-faculty ratio fosters a close-knit and supportive |
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academic community; and |
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WHEREAS, Students may choose from more than 40 academic |
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programs as well as from numerous preprofessional programs offered |
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through five schools, the Bill Greehey School of Business, the |
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School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Science, |
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Engineering and Technology, Graduate School, and Law School; in |
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addition to its outstanding academic programs, the school takes |
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pride in its athletic record, having won five national titles in |
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basketball, baseball, softball, and golf, and serving as home to |
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more than 160 All-American Scholar athletes; and |
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WHEREAS, St. Mary's is ranked fourth in the West region for |
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best value and quality by U.S. News & World Report, and its |
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graduation rates are among the highest in Texas; moreover, more |
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than 70 percent of its students participate in community service, |
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and statistics show that over 300 of its alumni have been elected to |
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public office, ranging from city councils to the United States |
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Congress; and |
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WHEREAS, With Dr. Charles Cotrell as its president since |
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2000, the university is continuing to build on its rich tradition of |
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promoting academic excellence while encouraging leadership and |
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service to the greater community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor St. Mary's University for the educational |
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opportunities it offers its students and extend an official welcome |
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to the visiting delegation from the school. |