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| | SR0459 | | LRB104 15839 LAW 29051 r |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to |
| 3 | | congratulate Sheila Quirk-Bailey, DM on the occasion of her |
| 4 | | retirement as president of Illinois Central College (ICC); and
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| 5 | | WHEREAS, ICC became the first institution in the nation to |
| 6 | | utilize Pell Grants for incarcerated students, demonstrating |
| 7 | | Dr. Quirk-Bailey's unwavering commitment to expanding |
| 8 | | educational opportunity and fostering second chances; and
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| 9 | | WHEREAS, During Dr. Quirk-Bailey's tenure, ICC |
| 10 | | credentialed more than 1,100 students of poverty through the |
| 11 | | Workforce Empowerment Initiative, producing strong completion |
| 12 | | and employment outcomes and setting a national standard for |
| 13 | | workforce inclusion; and
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| 14 | | WHEREAS, Under Dr. Quirk-Bailey's guidance, ICC secured |
| 15 | | nearly $20 million through the Good Jobs Challenge grant, |
| 16 | | becoming the only community college nationwide and the only |
| 17 | | institution funded in both rounds to advance the IT Workforce |
| 18 | | Accelerator program, which offers students industry-recognized |
| 19 | | credentials at no cost; and
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| 20 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Quirk-Bailey was also instrumental in ICC |
| 21 | | receiving a $349,397 National Science Foundation (NSF) |
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| | SR0459 | - 2 - | LRB104 15839 LAW 29051 r |
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| 1 | | Advanced Technological Education grant for its Creating a |
| 2 | | Workforce Pipeline of STEM Technicians Through Water Analysis |
| 3 | | program, giving students hands-on experience in original |
| 4 | | scientific research; and
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| 5 | | WHEREAS, ICC was recognized nationally as the 2020 |
| 6 | | Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Charles |
| 7 | | Kennedy Equity Award winner, affirming Dr. Quirk-Bailey's |
| 8 | | lasting impact on student equity and institutional excellence; |
| 9 | | and
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| 10 | | WHEREAS, Under Dr. Quirk-Bailey's visionary leadership, |
| 11 | | ICC has received the 2025 Illinois Community College Trustees |
| 12 | | Association (ICCTA) Equity and Diversity Award, the |
| 13 | | association's highest statewide honor recognizing leadership |
| 14 | | and innovation in advancing equity, and was named 2025 |
| 15 | | Achieving the Dream Leader College, becoming one of only 15 |
| 16 | | nationwide recognized for sustained improvements in student |
| 17 | | success, equity gains for minority students, and reforms that |
| 18 | | reduce barriers to high-demand careers; and
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| 19 | | WHEREAS, With Dr. Quirk-Bailey at the helm, ICC's |
| 20 | | Workforce Sustainability Center has prepared individuals for |
| 21 | | pre-apprenticeship and entry-level training in 13 high-demand |
| 22 | | programs, earning ICC recognition as a 2025 Bellwether Award |
| 23 | | finalist in two categories, Instructional Programs & Services |
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| | SR0459 | - 3 - | LRB104 15839 LAW 29051 r |
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| 1 | | and Workforce Development; and
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Quirk-Bailey will retire at the end of the |
| 3 | | year, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, inclusion, and |
| 4 | | transformation that has strengthened not only ICC but the |
| 5 | | entire Illinois Community College System; therefore, be it
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| 6 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL |
| 7 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Sheila |
| 8 | | Quirk-Bailey, DM on her retirement as president of Illinois |
| 9 | | Central College (ICC), and we thank her for her outstanding |
| 10 | | service, leadership, and dedication to the students and |
| 11 | | communities of ICC as well as higher education and workforce |
| 12 | | advancement in Illinois; and be it further
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| 13 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
| 14 | | presented to Dr. Quirk-Bailey as an expression of our esteem |
| 15 | | and respect. |
