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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize Stephen F. Austin State University on the occasion of |
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its centennial celebration; and |
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WHEREAS, Stephen F. Austin State University had its |
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beginnings when the Texas Legislature authorized a new |
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institution of higher education to be located in far East Texas |
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and to be named in honor of the Father of Texas, Stephen F. |
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Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1917, the State Board of Regents selected |
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Nacogdoches as the location of the new college because of its |
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rich heritage as the oldest town in Texas; the citizens of |
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Nacogdoches chose the homestead of Thomas J. Rusk, which had been |
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owned by Sam Houston, as the site for the new college, as both |
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Rusk and Houston had served as the original two United States |
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Senators from Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College opened |
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its doors to 270 students in 1923; today, the university enrolls |
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more than 11,300 students and provides a vital educational, |
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economic, and cultural resource in the region; the heart of |
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higher education in deep East Texas, the university offers more |
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than 120 areas of study and countless opportunities for student |
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athletes to participate in Division I intercollegiate sports, |
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bringing recognition and a sense of pride to the Nacogdoches |
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area; and |
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WHEREAS, Named the top rural-serving institution of its |
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size in Texas by the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges, |
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Stephen F. Austin State University now comprises six colleges; |
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its living alumni number 115,000 graduates who have been educated |
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by this fine university to be true citizens of the world; and |
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WHEREAS, Stephen F. Austin State University has for 100 |
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years been dedicated to creating opportunities for students to |
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access transformative higher education; alumni represent their |
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university in their communities and workplaces, and they |
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contribute to the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of |
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Texas; it is truly fitting that the university receive special |
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recognition on the occasion of this important milestone in the |
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school's history; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize 2023 as the Centennial Year of |
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Stephen F. Austin State University and extend a warm welcome to |
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the visiting delegation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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them as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |