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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The students, faculty, and staff of Tyler Junior |
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College are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the college's |
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founding in 2026; and |
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WHEREAS, TJC traces its origins to September 17, 1926, when |
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it began its inaugural school year with a class of 93 students; the |
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college initially operated out of Tyler High School and offered |
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courses in traditional liberal arts, public school music, and home |
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economics; during its early years, the college established football |
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and basketball teams, an outdoor recreation club, a campus |
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newsletter, and the Las Mascaras drama club, which today has the |
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distinction of being TJC's longest-running student organization; |
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in addition, the Alpha Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was |
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chartered at the college in 1930, and it is now one of the oldest |
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national honor society chapters in the nation; in 1945, voters in |
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Tyler approved a measure to create a junior college district and |
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establish a new campus for TJC; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, the college has expanded to |
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include two campuses in Tyler as well as locations in Lindale, |
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Jacksonville, and Rusk; today, TJC serves more than 19,000 students |
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each year, and it offers over 120 degree and certificate programs in |
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fields such as health care, creative arts, communication, |
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manufacturing, transportation, business, public service, and |
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science and technology; during its spring 2025 commencement, the |
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college awarded degrees and certificates to a record 1,689 |
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graduates; and |
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WHEREAS, Students at TJC have the opportunity to participate |
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in more than 40 clubs and organizations, including the Presidential |
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Honors Program, Student Senate, Phi Theta Kappa, Hispanic Student |
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Organization, Black Student Organization, Student Nurses |
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Organization, TJC band program, and TJC Wind Ensemble; the college |
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also boasts a highly accomplished athletics program, with nearly 70 |
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national championships; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its history, TJC has embraced a number of |
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symbols to represent its fierce and enduring spirit; these include |
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the Apache and the Harris's Hawk as well as the college's official |
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mascot, Harry the Hawk, who was introduced in October 2022; |
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moreover, generations of students have proudly participated in |
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traditions such as the drumbeat, which is a collective effort to |
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continuously keep a drum beating during homecoming week, and the |
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Rim March, a performance by the Apache Band and Belles that takes |
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place before football games; the college also commemorates special |
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events and victories by lighting its iconic Ramey Tower in gold; and |
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WHEREAS, True to its mission, TJC seeks to provide a caring, |
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comprehensive experience through educational excellence, stellar |
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service, innovative programming, and authentic partnerships; among |
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its many honors, the college was named one of the nation's top 150 |
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community colleges by the Aspen Institute College Excellence |
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Program in 2017, and it earned Military Friendly Silver status for |
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the 2025-2026 school year; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past century, Tyler Junior College has |
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provided students with a strong foundation on which to build |
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successful careers and fulfilling lives, and it is a privilege to |
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join in recognizing the institution on this special milestone in |
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its history; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tyler Junior College |
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and extend to all those affiliated with the college sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Tyler Junior College as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas Senate. |