H.R. No. 313
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College of
the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, has been named a 2025
recipient of the Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership
Excellence in the Education Sector; and
WHEREAS, Appointed president by the Alamo Colleges District
Board of Trustees, Dr. Garza took office on September 10, 2018; he
went on to make a noteworthy impact in his first year at the helm,
spearheading a fundraising campaign that resulted in a record $1.3
million commitment for scholarships for students and employees;
moreover, Palo Alto College's sterling reputation contributed to
all five Alamo Colleges being honored with a Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality Award, and the campus was named a Rising Star by
the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence
program in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Garza has overseen an era of rapid progress for
the institution; a new multipurpose building, the Rio Grande,
opened in 2023, providing specialized spaces for programs in
advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics,
cybersecurity, dental hygiene, and more; in addition, he has worked
to build engagement with south Bexar County residents through
existing programming as well as new community events and
initiatives, including Educate South, which focuses on public and
private partnerships that develop educational awareness at the
earliest levels of schooling; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his achievements, Dr. Garza
received the V. Ray Cardozier Alumni Excellence Award from The
University of Texas at Austin; a member of the board of the Alamo
Collegiate Network, he has also served the wider community on the
boards of Catch the Next, Inc., the Hot Wells Conservancy, the
Mexican American Civil Rights Institute, and Texas Vista Medical
Center; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Garza first joined the Alamo Colleges District
in 1999, and he previously excelled in such roles as vice president
of student success and dean of community development and
partnerships; he holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M
University, a master's degree in public administration from UT San
Antonio, and a doctorate in educational administration from UT
Austin; and
WHEREAS, Through his adept and forward-looking leadership,
Robert Garza has significantly advanced the important mission of
Palo Alto College, and he is richly deserving of this national
accolade; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Robert Garza on his receipt of
a 2025 Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence in the
Education Sector and extend to him sincere best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Garza as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Lujan
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 313 was adopted by the House on March
6, 2025, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House