| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Proud alumni, students, administrators, and |
|
|
trustees are gathering in Austin on January 27, 2011, to celebrate |
|
|
The University of Texas-Pan American Day at the State Capitol; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Located in Edinburg, The University of Texas-Pan |
|
|
American is the 10th largest of the state's public universities, |
|
|
with an enrollment of 18,744 students at the beginning of the |
|
|
2010-2011 school year; the institution was founded as a two-year |
|
|
community college in 1927, originally consisting of a single |
|
|
building and 200 learners, and over the ensuing decades it grew to |
|
|
become a four-year college and then a university; it joined The |
|
|
University of Texas System in 1989; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In the 84 years since its creation, The University |
|
|
of Texas-Pan American has conferred more than 50,400 bachelor's |
|
|
degrees, 10,800 master's degrees, and 100 doctoral degrees; in |
|
|
addition, it ranks second in the nation in the number of bachelor's |
|
|
degrees and fourth in the number of master's degrees awarded to |
|
|
Hispanic students; the institution was named by Forbes magazine as |
|
|
the 32nd best public college in the United States in 2009, ranking |
|
|
third among schools in Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The University of Texas-Pan American offers 57 |
|
|
bachelor's, 57 master's, and 5 doctoral or cooperative doctoral |
|
|
programs, plus the only physician-assistant program outside a |
|
|
medical school in Texas; students also benefit from a rich social |
|
|
environment that includes such traditions as the annual Carnival of |
|
|
the Great Pumpkin on Halloween, Midnight Madness at the start of |
|
|
each basketball season, and Homecoming, which includes a battle of |
|
|
the bands, the Bronc Olympics, a tailgate party and pep rally, and a |
|
|
men's basketball game as part of a week's worth of special |
|
|
festivities; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Performing in the Capitol Rotunda on The University |
|
|
of Texas-Pan American Day is the university's renowned musical |
|
|
group Mariachi Aztlan; the band has won more than 10 first-place |
|
|
awards at national mariachi competitions and has been recognized |
|
|
for its achievements in promoting Hispanic culture; in the past |
|
|
year alone, Mariachi Aztlan was named Grand Champions of the |
|
|
Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque, performed in the premiere of |
|
|
the Houston Grand Opera production of To Cross the Face of the Moon |
|
|
(Cruzar la Cara de la Luna), and played for President Barack Obama; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The University of Texas-Pan American has |
|
|
established itself as a preeminent institution of higher education, |
|
|
and residents of Texas are fortunate to have access to this |
|
|
exceptional resource; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize January 27, 2011, as The University of |
|
|
Texas-Pan American Day at the State Capitol and commend all those |
|
|
associated with the university for their contributions to the Lone |
|
|
Star State; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for The University of Texas-Pan American as an expression |
|
|
of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |