HR0347

LRB094 12098 HSS 45382 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 

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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representative of the 
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State of Illinois are pleased to honor St. Augustine College on 
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the occasion of its annual El Puente Awards Gala that will 
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occur on Friday, May 20, 2005; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The college was created under the auspices of the 
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Episcopal Diocese and authorized by the Illinois Board of 
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Higher Education on October 7, 1980; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The mission of St. Augustine College is to make 
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the United States system of higher education accessible to a 
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diverse student population with emphasis on those of Hispanic 
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descent, to strengthen ethnic identity, to reinforce cultural 
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interaction, and to build a bridge to fill cultural, 
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educational, and socio-economic gaps; and
 

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    WHEREAS, St. Augustine College provides pre-collegiate and 
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collegiate learning opportunities to more than 2,000 students 
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and also provides a safe, enriched environment for the more 
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than 300 children in the College's Head Start and child 
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development programs; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The institution offers an academically 
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challenging yet supportive environment to its very diverse 
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student population; it acts as a bridge to better employment, 
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education, and full participation in the life of the community; 
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and
 

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    WHEREAS, St. Augustine College provides an opportunity for 
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higher education to Hispanic Americans and to all Americans who 
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are willing to develop their potential and to acquire the 
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command of a second language; St. Augustine has been the 
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Midwest's only bilingual college; and
 

 


 






HR0347
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LRB094 12098 HSS 45382 r




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    WHEREAS, The Governing Board of St. Augustine College 
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established the El Puente Awards to recognize individuals and 
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organizations for their outstanding commitment to education 
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and support of the Hispanic community; all proceeds from the 
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Awards Dinner go toward the St. Augustine College Scholarship 
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Fund created to support promising students with financial need; 
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therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we honor St. Augustine College at the El Puente Silver 
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Anniversary Awards Gala for the significant educational 
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opportunities it provides to Hispanic Americans and its student 
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body; and be it further
 

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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to St. Augustine College as an expression of our 
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esteem.