HR1176 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1176 LRB096 22101 GRL 40818 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the administration, staff, and students of Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel on the occasion of the college's 50th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Wabash Valley College is a 2-year, coeducational, public community college that is operated by the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District 529; the college was founded in 1959, when the Board of Education of District 348 approved a resolution for the study of providing a junior college as part of the district's educational system; a referendum that was held on December 10, 1960, which passed by more than a 3-to-1 margin, established a junior college, which was named Wabash Valley College; and

WHEREAS, On August 1, 1961, Wabash Valley College was moved from its temporary office at the Little Brick School Building to its first home at Bluff College; in its first semester, the college offered 23 courses and 79 hours of weekly instruction from its 21 part-time instructors and 5 full-time instructors; 75 full-time and 73 part-time students were enrolled the first year; and

WHEREAS, Wabash Valley College grew steadily throughout the early 1960s; on July 14, 1964, the ground was broken for a new building for the college, which was named Main Hall; in September of 1965, 263 full-time and 525 part-time students met for classes in the college's new facility; on July 1, 1969, Wabash Valley College became a part of Junior College District 529, which eventually became Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District 529; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, Wabash Valley College achieved candidacy status for North Central accreditation; the college was granted full accreditation status during the 1972-1973 school year; and

WHEREAS, In its 50-year history, Wabash Valley College has graduated over 12,000 students and has instructed thousands of non-graduating students; and

WHEREAS, Wabash Valley College will celebrate its 50th anniversary beginning on July 31, 2010, with numerous events planned throughout the year; a special "Founders Day" program will be held on December 10, 2010 to celebrate the anniversary of the founding date of the college; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the administration, staff, and students of Wabash Valley College on the occasion of the college's 50th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Wabash Valley College Board of Trustees as a symbol of our esteem and respect.