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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from Rice University is |
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gathering in Austin on April 14, 2025, to celebrate Rice University |
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Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1891, Rice University is ranked among the |
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nation's foremost institutions and holds the highest research |
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activity designation, R1, from the Carnegie Classification of |
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Institutions of Higher Education; during the 2024-2025 academic |
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year, it is marking the 50th anniversaries of four of its schools; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Jones Graduate School of Business is named after |
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its founder, Jesse H. Jones; today, it offers eight prestigious |
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graduate programs and undergraduate options and serves over 1,700 |
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students; under the leadership of Dean Peter Rodriguez, the school |
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has launched four new programs that address the complexities of the |
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modern business landscape; and |
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WHEREAS, The namesake of the Shepherd School of Music, |
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Benjamin A. Shepherd, was the grandfather of philanthropist Sallie |
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Shepherd Perkins; her endowment laid the foundation for what would |
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become one of the country's premier music schools; each year, it |
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offers more than 400 free concerts and recitals; since 2021, it has |
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been guided by Dean Matthew Loden; and |
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WHEREAS, While engineering has long been a key component of |
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Rice's legacy, the engineering school itself was established in |
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1975; it was named the George R. Brown School of Engineering and |
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Computing in 2024 to reflect its heightened focus on computing, |
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artificial intelligence, and machine learning; its faculty, |
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academic programs, and research impact have increased through the |
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dedicated efforts of Dean Luay Nakhleh; and |
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WHEREAS, The Wiess School of Natural Sciences was created |
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through the generosity of Olga and Harry Wiess; internationally |
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renowned, the faculty has included Nobel Prize winners Robert Curl |
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and Richard Smalley; in continuing a proud tradition of dynamic |
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leadership, Dean Thomas Killian is aided by Associate Dean for |
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Research Douglas Natelson; the school often collaborates with the |
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Texas Medical Center as it prepares students for important roles in |
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such sectors as bioscience, health policy, environmental analysis, |
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and energy; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its history, Rice University has |
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advanced knowledge and innovation in a wide range of disciplines, |
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and in so doing, it has contributed immeasurably to the prosperity |
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and vibrancy of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 14, 2025, as Rice University Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting |
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delegation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the university as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |