First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
LLS NO. R25-1055.01 Faith Marcovecchio x4331
SJR25-020
Senate Committees House Committees
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 25-020
C
ONCERNING RECOGNITION OF COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY'S101
100-
YEAR ANNIVERSARY.102
WHEREAS, The Grand Junction, Colorado, community began1
work in the 1880s to create an institution of higher learning to serve2
western Colorado students; and3
WHEREAS, A broad coalition of community leaders, including4
Senator Ollie Bannister, Representative C.J. McCormick of Mesa County,5
and Governor Clarence Morley, were successful in passing legislation6
creating Grand Junction Junior College in April 1925; and7
WHEREAS, Over the decades, the name of Grand Junction's8
institution of higher learning has morphed from Grand Junction Junior9
College to Grand Junction State Junior College to Mesa College to Mesa10
SENATE
Final Reading
April 10, 2025
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Rich, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bridges, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Coleman, Cutter, Daugherty,
Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Liston, Lundeen,
Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Roberts, Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder,
Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Winter F.
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Taggart,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. State College to its current moniker, Colorado Mesa University, but the1
personalized focus on providing students with tangible skills to meet2
workforce needs has not changed; and3
WHEREAS, Colorado Mesa University is an institution unique to4
our state in that it delivers both career and technical two-year, four-year,5
and graduate degree programs; and6
WHEREAS, Colorado Mesa University is a major economic driver7
in western Colorado, with over $500 million in annual economic impact8
to the region; and9
WHEREAS, Colorado Mesa University is one of Colorado's10
fastest growing institutions of higher education; and11
WHEREAS, Colorado Mesa University is a beacon of opportunity12
to first-generation students from across the state; and13
WHEREAS, The history of Colorado Mesa University is replete14
with grit, determination, and a willingness to break from the pack,15
exemplified by its long-standing mascot, the Maverick; and16
WHEREAS, The state deeply values the unique role and mission17
and the long history of Colorado Mesa University and its ability to deliver18
high-quality academic programs at every level; and19
WHEREAS, 2025 marks Colorado Mesa University's 100-year20
anniversary of changing lives through the transformative power of21
education; now, therefore,22
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly23
of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:24
That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly:25
(1) Recognize the countless achievements of students, faculty26
members, and community leaders over the past 100 years at Colorado27
Mesa University;28
(2) Pay tribute to 100 years of Maverick pride across the state of29
Colorado and beyond;30
020
-2- (3) Toast the success of Colorado Mesa University and the entire1
Western Slope community for 100 years of impact; and2
(4) Look forward to being a part of the next century of success at3
Colorado Mesa University.4
Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent5
to the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees and members of the6
Colorado Mesa University Century Project Steering Committee.7
020
-3-