SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 570
WHEREAS, Four students, Matthew Carrizal, Miguel Gonzalez,
Courtney Osborn, and Lexi Villarreal, graduated with
certificates in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M
University on May 11, 2023, as members of the inaugural class of
the Aggie ACHIEVE program; and
WHEREAS, Aggie ACHIEVE, which stands for Academic Courses
in Higher Inclusive Education and Vocational Experiences, is a
comprehensive transition program for young adults with
intellectual and developmental disabilities who have exited high
school; the program provides participants with an inclusive and
immersive college education with the goal of successfully
preparing them for employment in the community; and
WHEREAS, With the program's launch in the fall of 2019,
Texas A&M became the first university in the state to introduce a
certificate-based higher education initiative of this kind for
young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
Aggie ACHIEVE is designed to enroll students for up to four
years, and each student is matched with coursework, internship
opportunities, and extracurricular activities that align with
their academic interests and employment goals; students in the
program take classes, live independently, complete internships
on campus, and work part-time jobs both on campus and in the
College Station community, in addition to participating in
social, athletic, and recreational activities alongside their
fellow Aggies; and
WHEREAS, Created by Dr. Carly Gilson at the TAMU School of
Education and Human Development, the Aggie ACHIEVE program was
established based on research showing that students with
intellectual and developmental disabilities who attend
postsecondary inclusive programs have a higher rate of
employment and earn higher wages than those who do not have such
opportunities; the students enrolled in Aggie ACHIEVE also
benefit from the support and mentorship of their peers in
ACHIEVEMates, an organization formed by Texas A&M undergraduate
students to help ACHIEVE participants reach their goals; and
WHEREAS, The four members of the inaugural cohort of Aggie
ACHIEVE demonstrated hard work, dedication, and perseverance on
their way to completing the program, and they are indeed
deserving of special recognition for this accomplishment as they
embark on the next exciting chapter of their lives; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby honor the inaugural graduating class of the
Aggie ACHIEVE program and extend to each student sincere best
wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That official copies of this Resolution be
prepared for the students as an expression of high regard from
the Texas Senate.
Bettencourt
Alvarado Hinojosa Nichols Alvarado Hinojosa Nichols
Alvarado Hinojosa Nichols
Birdwell Huffman Parker Birdwell Huffman Parker
Birdwell Huffman Parker
Blanco Hughes Paxton Blanco Hughes Paxton
Blanco Hughes Paxton
Campbell Johnson Perry Campbell Johnson Perry
Campbell Johnson Perry
Creighton King Schwertner Creighton King Schwertner
Creighton King Schwertner
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Flores LaMantia Springer Flores LaMantia Springer
Flores LaMantia Springer
Gutierrez Menéndez West Gutierrez Menéndez West
Gutierrez Menéndez West
Hall Middleton Whitmire Hall Middleton Whitmire
Hall Middleton Whitmire
Hancock Miles Zaffirini Hancock Miles Zaffirini
Hancock Miles Zaffirini
Patrick, President of the Senate
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 15, 2023.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
Alvarado Hinojosa Nichols
Birdwell Huffman Parker
Blanco Hughes Paxton
Campbell Johnson Perry
Creighton King Schwertner
Eckhardt Kolkhorst Sparks
Flores LaMantia Springer
Gutierrez Menéndez West
Hall Middleton Whitmire
Hancock Miles Zaffirini