TITLE: Recognizing February 26, 2025, as Orange and Maroon Legislative Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 26, 2025, as Orange and Maroon Legislative Day.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Longhorns and Aggies are uniting at the State Capitol on February 26, 2025, to celebrate The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University with Orange and Maroon Legislative Day, a day when the state's two largest universities work together to promote higher education in the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, Alumni from the two institutions total more than 1.17 million, and The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University had a combined enrollment of nearly 133,000 students in the fall of 2024, with nearly 35,000 students receiving degrees that year; the schools boast superb museums and libraries, including the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, and both universities are renowned for their exceptional research, with combined annual research expenditures of more than $2.3 billion; and WHEREAS, The teaching and research missions of The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University benefit the State of Texas through the cultivation of informed and engaged citizens, and they drive economic prosperity through technological innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, improved health care, and scientific breakthroughs; and WHEREAS, Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University explore, discover, and innovate in the sciences, arts, and humanities and have been granted numerous patents; as Tier One research institutions, both universities provide students valuable opportunities for applied learning with guidance from outstanding faculty across the disciplines, and both universities broaden access to higher education for underserved populations; and WHEREAS, Both universities serve as important cultural centers that engage Texans in the visual and performing arts and other creative endeavors; the schools promote athletics and physical education and inspire Texans to stay active and join together in support of student athletes; and WHEREAS, The combined faculties feature Nobel laureates and more than 100 National Academy members, and those attending the schools include National Merit scholars, Rhodes scholars, Olympic gold medalists, and many of the Lone Star State's most outstanding students; in addition, the two universities offer an amazing range of postgraduate opportunities with more than 350 graduate degree programs; and WHEREAS, The two universities have proven records of support for our nation's military; the schools have commissioned tens of thousands of uniformed officers throughout their storied histories and enroll hundreds of veterans each semester, establishing their commitment to providing new opportunities to our nation's bravest in supportive, military-friendly environments; and WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have positioned themselves as preeminent institutions of higher education on the state, national, and international levels, and Texans are fortunate to have access to these two exceptional state university systems; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, hereby recognize February 26, 2025, as Orange and Maroon Legislative Day and commend students and alumni from The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University for their commitment to supporting higher education in the Lone Star State. Creighton Alvarado Hall Middleton Bettencourt Hancock Miles Birdwell Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols Blanco Hinojosa of Nueces Parker Campbell Huffman Paxton Cook Hughes Perry Eckhardt Johnson Schwertner Flores King Sparks Gutierrez Kolkhorst West Hagenbuch Men ndez Zaffirini Patrick, President of the Senate President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 26, 2025.