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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College of |
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the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, has been named a 2025 |
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recipient of the Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership |
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Excellence in the Education Sector; and |
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WHEREAS, Appointed president by the Alamo Colleges District |
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Board of Trustees, Dr. Garza took office on September 10, 2018; he |
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went on to make a noteworthy impact in his first year at the helm, |
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spearheading a fundraising campaign that resulted in a record $1.3 |
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million commitment for scholarships for students and employees; |
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moreover, Palo Alto College's sterling reputation contributed to |
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all five Alamo Colleges being honored with a Malcolm Baldrige |
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National Quality Award, and the campus was named a Rising Star by |
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the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence |
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program in 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Garza has overseen an era of rapid progress for |
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the institution; a new multipurpose building, the Rio Grande, |
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opened in 2023, providing specialized spaces for programs in |
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advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics, |
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cybersecurity, dental hygiene, and more; in addition, he has worked |
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to build engagement with south Bexar County residents through |
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existing programming as well as new community events and |
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initiatives, including Educate South, which focuses on public and |
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private partnerships that develop educational awareness at the |
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earliest levels of schooling; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his achievements, Dr. Garza |
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received the V. Ray Cardozier Alumni Excellence Award from The |
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University of Texas at Austin; a member of the board of the Alamo |
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Collegiate Network, he has also served the wider community on the |
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boards of Catch the Next, Inc., the Hot Wells Conservancy, the |
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Mexican American Civil Rights Institute, and Texas Vista Medical |
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Center; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Garza first joined the Alamo Colleges District |
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in 1999, and he previously excelled in such roles as vice president |
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of student success and dean of community development and |
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partnerships; he holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M |
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University, a master's degree in public administration from UT San |
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Antonio, and a doctorate in educational administration from UT |
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Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his adept and forward-looking leadership, |
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Robert Garza has significantly advanced the important mission of |
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Palo Alto College, and he is richly deserving of this national |
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accolade; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Robert Garza on his receipt of |
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a 2025 Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence in the |
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Education Sector and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Garza as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |