SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 638

WHEREAS, The Texas Senate is pleased to recognize April 25, 2019, as Trinity University Day at the State Capitol and to welcome the visiting delegation from San Antonio; and

WHEREAS, The history of Trinity University can be traced back 150 years ago to 1869, when a group of hardy Texans chose the tiny town of Tehuacana as Trinity University's first home; here they aspired to establish "a university of the highest order," and on the first day of classes, five faculty members greeted seven students; and

WHEREAS, In 1902, the university relocated to nearby Waxahachie to improve its financial footing and enrollment, and while things improved measurably, the stock market crash of 1929 plunged the country and Trinity into a prolonged period of economic depression; in 1942, the university relocated to the Alamo City following an invitation from the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, forever changing the school's trajectory; for 10 years, Trinity existed in military barracks and Quonset huts on the city's near West Side; and

WHEREAS, In 1952, Trinity University moved to an abandoned limestone quarry north of downtown, where it remains on strong footing today; the university's iconic "Skyline Campus" features Murchison Tower, a landmark to San Antonians and visitors alike, and beautiful red brick mid-century architecture by renowned architect O'Neil Ford; the campus was recently listed as a National Historic District, the only such campus in Texas and one of only three in the United States; and

WHEREAS, A liberal arts and sciences education at Trinity produces citizens who can face 21st century challenges head-on; Trinity University forms independent critical thinkers who are practical and compassionate learners; a properly applied liberal arts education enables students to make sense of their world, and even more importantly, to make positive and lasting impacts in it; some of the biggest lessons at Trinity are learned outside of the classroom; students are encouraged to take what they learn on campus and use it to help benefit the city of San Antonio, the state of Texas, and beyond; and

WHEREAS, A Trinity University liberal arts and sciences education is founded on undergraduate research, entrepreneurship, experiential learning, and international engagement, and Trinity Tigers are seizing every opportunity to redefine a liberal arts education, cultivating a community of lifelong learners driven by a sense of duty; and

WHEREAS, The university is nationally recognized as one of the top small liberal arts universities in the nation, receiving accolades from the Wall Street Journal, the Princeton Review, and U.S. News & World Report; Trinity was also recently named by Money.com as the number two university in the nation for best colleges for merit aid; and

WHEREAS, Trinity boasts many accomplished alumni, including United States Senator John Cornyn, Whole Foods Market cofounder and CEO John Mackey, philanthropist and KIND founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky, actress Jaclyn Smith, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, poet and novelist Naomi Shihab Nye, and Major League Baseball player and manager Davey Johnson; and

WHEREAS, Forged in economic hardship and solidly rooted in rugged limestone bluffs, Trinity University today stands resolute and strong as it continuously transforms to meet the needs of its students, its community, and the world; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, hereby recognize April 25, 2019, as Trinity University Day at the State Capitol and extend to the members of the visiting delegation best wishes for a memorable visit.

Menéndez, Campbell Flores, Zaffirini

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 25, 2019.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate