H.R. No. 1678

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Dr. Shirley A. Reed, the founding and current president of South Texas College, received the 2011 Alfredo G. de los Santos, Jr., Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on March 5, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Established in 1987, the award recognizes outstanding administrators in higher education, and Dr. Reed demonstrates the exceptional leadership qualities of the award's namesake as she works to mentor her students and faculty and create greater access to higher education; and

WHEREAS, Born in northern Canada, Shirley Reed was the daughter of a nickel miner, and as the only young girl within 50 miles, she learned early to be strong and to persevere; her family eventually relocated to Florida, and she enrolled in her first institution of higher education at the age of 26, attending St. Petersburg Junior College and working nights as a lab technician in a hospital; and

WHEREAS, She went on to earn a bachelor's degree, two master's degrees, and a doctorate; she joined Spoon River College in Illinois to create a library for the school and then moved to Northland Pioneer College in Arizona, managing multiple campuses across two sprawling counties and three Native American reservations; and

WHEREAS, The legislature established South Texas College in 1993, when McAllen and its environs represented the largest metropolitan area in the State of Texas not served by a community college; Dr. Reed was chosen as the school's first president, and her initial objective was to garner support at the ballot box; she succeeded in securing the passage of a tax district and $20 million in bond construction projects to make the college a reality; and

WHEREAS, During her tenure, Dr. Reed has overseen the school's remarkable growth; it now encompasses five campuses in McAllen, Weslaco, and Rio Grande City, and its enrollment has risen from 1,000 to more than 28,000 students; South Texas College also employs more than 1,600 faculty and staff and offers over 100 degree and certificate programs, including two bachelor's degrees; in addition, the college hosts many cultural and educational events that benefit the community and makes dual enrollment programs available to high school students seeking to accelerate their studies; and

WHEREAS, Sixty percent of the students at South Texas College are the first in their families to attend college and 75 percent receive financial aid, and Dr. Reed is committed to economic development and regional prosperity in the area; her colleagues readily cite her boldness, tenacity, affinity for hard work, and student-centered approach when discussing her accomplishments, while she is quick to credit faculty and staff; and

WHEREAS, The visionary guidance and tireless dedication that Dr. Shirley Reed has brought to her endeavors as president of South Texas College have contributed immeasurably to the school's growing stature and to the transformative experience it provides to thousands of future leaders of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate South Texas College president Dr. Shirley A. Reed on her receipt of the 2011 Alfredo G. de los Santos, Jr., Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

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

Gonzales of Hidalgo

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1678 was adopted by the House on May 12, 2011, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House