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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A distinguished group from St. Mary's University is |
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gathering at the State Capitol on February 14, 2011, to celebrate |
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the school and its important contributions to the Lone Star State; |
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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; a 13 to 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, This notable liberal arts institution has built a |
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national reputation for the quality of its programs and for |
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fostering a spirit of civic engagement; St. Mary's University is |
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the alma mater of more than 300 elected officials, who have served |
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both our state and our nation with distinction; moreover, more than |
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70 percent of the university's students participate in community |
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service activities; and |
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WHEREAS, The Carnegie Foundation granted St. Mary's |
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University its prestigious Community Engagement Classification in |
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recognition of the school's mission-driven focus on academic rigor, |
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community service, and civic participation; Washington Monthly |
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magazine rated St. Mary's first in the nation for promoting an ethic |
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of service to country, fostering scientific and humanistic |
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research, and performing as an engine of social mobility; moreover, |
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the John Templeton Foundation lists it as a College that Builds |
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Character, and the Princeton Review and Campus Compact named it one |
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of the nation's top Colleges with a Conscience; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to its outstanding academic programs, |
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the school takes pride in its athletic record; it has won five |
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national titles in basketball, baseball, softball, and golf and is |
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home to 167 All-American Scholar athletes; and |
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WHEREAS, Skillfully guided since 2000 by president Dr. |
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Charles Cotrell, St. Mary's University continues to build on its |
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rich tradition of academic excellence while encouraging leadership |
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and service to the greater community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor St. Mary's University for its exceptional |
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contributions to higher education and extend to the visiting |
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delegation best wishes for a memorable day at the State Capitol. |