TITLE: Commemorating the centennial of the creation of The University of Texas at El Paso.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the centennial of the creation of The University of Texas at El Paso.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The University of Texas at El Paso is celebrating the centennial of its creation in 2013; and WHEREAS, On April 16, 1913, Texas governor O. B. Colquitt signed S.B. 183, 33rd Legislature, Regular Session, which established the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy; the institution was guided by the regents of The University of Texas, and today, it ranks as the second-oldest academic institution in the UT System; and WHEREAS, The school was renamed the College of Mines and Metallurgy in 1920 and became Texas Western College nearly 30 years later; since 1967, it has been known by its present name; and WHEREAS, During the civil rights era, UTEP played a crucial role in breaking down barriers; it became the first state college to integrate undergraduate classes in 1955, and it later was the first school in the UT System to hire an African American administrator; in 1966, the basketball team fielded the first all-African American starting lineup in NCAA championship history and upset the highly favored University of Kentucky for the national title; its bold stand led other teams to begin recruiting African American athletes, marking a turning point in college athletics; and WHEREAS, The institution has continued its tradition of diversity, and it now ranks third among all U.S. universities in awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanics and among the top 10 in preparing Hispanic students for success in completing doctoral degrees; and WHEREAS, Long a leader in higher education, UTEP was recognized in 1996 by the National Science Foundation as one of six model institutions for excellence in the nation, and four years later, it was acknowledged by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral and research-intensive institution; the Texas Legislature designated it as one of seven emerging Tier One institutions, and in 2012, the United States Department of Education rated it as the national research institution with the lowest net cost; moreover, Washington Monthly ranked the school 12th among all national research universities and first in fostering social mobility in the lives of its graduates; and WHEREAS, Benefiting from the skilled guidance of president Diana Natalicio, UTEP has a current enrollment of nearly 23,000 students and offers degrees in 70 bachelor's programs, 75 master's programs, and 19 doctoral programs; and WHEREAS, For the past century, The University of Texas at El Paso has contributed immeasurably to the economic and cultural vitality of the Paso del Norte region, and it has proven a powerful force for social progress in the Lone Star State and beyond; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the centennial of the creation of The University of Texas at El Paso and extend to all those associated with the institution sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the university as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Marquez Pickett N. Gonzalez of El Paso Moody M. Gonzalez of El Paso Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1258 was adopted by the House on April 16, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House