HR1145 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1145 LRB098 21431 MST 59895 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Dr. Jack Becherer on his retirement as President of Rock Valley College (RVC) in November of 2013; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jack Becherer has served as president of Rock Valley College since November 2004; during his tenure, the college has opened a Learning and Opportunity Center in Downtown Rockford, built a state-of-the-art Science and Mathematics building, named for the past president, Dr. Karl Jacobs, and restored the Educational Resource Center and the Physical Education Center; also, the college has received a $36,000,000 allocation - one of the largest capital allocations to a community college in the State of Illinois - to build a performance studio and classrooms for art, music, and theater and to restore the 2 existing original classroom buildings; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Becherer has been committed to bringing the resources of the college to address community challenges; he has initiated a Running Start program for high achieving high school juniors and seniors, enabling these students to take college courses that meet high school requirements, leading to the completion of high school graduation and an associate degree at the same time; in addition, he has been an advocate of RVC's preparation of engineers and manufacturing careers as one means to increase the economic vitality of the Rock River Region; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Becherer has more than 35 years of experience in community colleges, including faculty positions in Virginia and Missouri, and administrative positions in Missouri and Illinois; prior to becoming Rock Valley College's fifth president, he was president of Wenatchee Valley College in the state of Washington; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Becherer has been very active in the greater Rockford community; he serves on the board of directors for Rockford Health System, the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, the Winnebago, Boone, and Stephenson Counties Workforce Investment Board, and the Golden Apple Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Becherer and his wife, Janna, enjoy the greater Rockford community, especially the amazing recreational and outdoor activities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Jack Becherer on his retirement as President of Rock Valley College in November of 2013, and wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Becherer as an expression of our esteem and respect.