| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 99 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart stepped down as president |
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| 6 | 6 | | of Amarillo College on September 30, 2023, and the conclusion of his |
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| 7 | 7 | | service provides a fitting opportunity to recognize his many |
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| 8 | 8 | | significant accomplishments; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Since his appointment in 2014, Dr. Lowery-Hart has |
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| 10 | 10 | | worked tirelessly to develop AC as one of the top community colleges |
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| 11 | 11 | | in the nation; over the course of his exemplary tenure, he was |
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| 12 | 12 | | essential in the implementation of the college's Culture of Caring |
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| 13 | 13 | | initiative, and he oversaw the establishment of childcare access |
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| 14 | 14 | | for students with children, virtual learning space during the |
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| 15 | 15 | | COVID-19 pandemic, and the THRIVE Scholarship Program partnership, |
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| 16 | 16 | | as well as the launch of AC's first comprehensive campaign, Badger |
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| 17 | 17 | | Bold, and the reestablishment of Badger Athletics; furthermore, the |
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| 18 | 18 | | college saw a 75 percent growth rate of first-generation students |
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| 19 | 19 | | completing their degree or certificate, and three-year completion |
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| 20 | 20 | | rates more than doubled; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Under Dr. Lowery-Hart's able leadership, AC |
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| 22 | 22 | | received a number of honors, including the Leah Meyer Austin Award |
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| 23 | 23 | | from Achieving the Dream and the Bellwether Award; the school was |
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| 24 | 24 | | also recognized as a Top 5 College and received a Rising Star award |
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| 25 | 25 | | from the Aspen Institute in 2021, and it was named a corecipient of |
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| 26 | 26 | | the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in |
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| 27 | 27 | | 2023; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Before becoming president, Dr. Lowery-Hart served |
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| 29 | 29 | | the college as vice president of academic affairs; he holds a |
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| 30 | 30 | | bachelor's degree in speech communication and rhetoric from West |
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| 31 | 31 | | Texas State University, a master's degree in communication studies |
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| 32 | 32 | | from Texas Tech University, and a doctorate in interpersonal |
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| 33 | 33 | | communication from Ohio University; in recognition of his myriad |
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| 34 | 34 | | accomplishments, he was named the National Council of Instructional |
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| 35 | 35 | | Administrators Academic Leader of the Year in 2014 and the 2021 |
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| 36 | 36 | | Amarillo Globe-News Man of the Year; and |
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| 37 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Lowery-Hart undertook his new role as the ninth |
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| 38 | 38 | | chancellor of the Austin Community College District on October 1, |
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| 39 | 39 | | 2023; in all his endeavors, he enjoys the love and support of a fine |
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| 40 | 40 | | family that includes his wife of almost 30 years, Tara, and their |
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| 41 | 41 | | three children; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | WHEREAS, Through his dedication, expertise, and visionary |
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| 43 | 43 | | leadership, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart has played a vital role in |
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| 44 | 44 | | advancing the proud legacy of Amarillo College, and his |
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| 45 | 45 | | achievements will continue to be appreciated for years to come; |
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| 46 | 46 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 47 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 48 | 48 | | Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend Dr. Russell |
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| 49 | 49 | | Lowery-Hart for his service as president of Amarillo College and |
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| 50 | 50 | | extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 51 | 51 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 52 | 52 | | prepared for Dr. Lowery-Hart as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 53 | 53 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 54 | 54 | | Price |
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| 55 | 55 | | ______________________________ |
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| 56 | 56 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 57 | 57 | | I certify that H.R. No. 99 was adopted by the House on |
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| 58 | 58 | | November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 59 | 59 | | ______________________________ |
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| 60 | 60 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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