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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Dr. Jack Becherer on his
4retirement as President of Rock Valley College (RVC) in
5November of 2013; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dr. Jack Becherer has served as president of Rock
7Valley College since November 2004; during his tenure, the
8college has opened a Learning and Opportunity Center in
9Downtown Rockford, built a state-of-the-art Science and
10Mathematics building, named for the past president, Dr. Karl
11Jacobs, and restored the Educational Resource Center and the
12Physical Education Center; also, the college has received a
13$36,000,000 allocation - one of the largest capital allocations
14to a community college in the State of Illinois - to build a
15performance studio and classrooms for art, music, and theater
16and to restore the 2 existing original classroom buildings; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Dr. Becherer has been committed to bringing the
18resources of the college to address community challenges; he
19has initiated a Running Start program for high achieving high
20school juniors and seniors, enabling these students to take
21college courses that meet high school requirements, leading to
22the completion of high school graduation and an associate
23degree at the same time; in addition, he has been an advocate

 

 

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1of RVC's preparation of engineers and manufacturing careers as
2one means to increase the economic vitality of the Rock River
3Region; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Dr. Becherer has more than 35 years of experience
5in community colleges, including faculty positions in Virginia
6and Missouri, and administrative positions in Missouri and
7Illinois; prior to becoming Rock Valley College's fifth
8president, he was president of Wenatchee Valley College in the
9state of Washington; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dr. Becherer has been very active in the greater
11Rockford community; he serves on the board of directors for
12Rockford Health System, the Rockford Area Economic Development
13Council, the Winnebago, Boone, and Stephenson Counties
14Workforce Investment Board, and the Golden Apple Foundation;
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, Dr. Becherer and his wife, Janna, enjoy the
17greater Rockford community, especially the amazing
18recreational and outdoor activities; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21we congratulate Dr. Jack Becherer on his retirement as
22President of Rock Valley College in November of 2013, and wish

 

 

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1him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to Dr. Becherer as an expression of our esteem and
4respect.