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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 538 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 538

Commending Blue Mountain Christian University for 150 years of service 
           to the State of Mississippi and the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 31, 2024

 Mrs. Hyde-Smith (for herself and Mr. Wicker) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Commending Blue Mountain Christian University for 150 years of service 
           to the State of Mississippi and the United States.

Whereas Blue Mountain Christian University began its first session as a women's 
        institution on September 12, 1873, with a four-member faculty offering a 
        liberal arts curriculum to 50 students;
Whereas Blue Mountain Christian University was chartered as a college in 1877 
        and managed by the Lowrey family until 1920 when the Mississippi Baptist 
        Convention assumed ownership;
Whereas, in 1956, the Mississippi Baptist Convention voted to add a coordinated 
        academic program for men preparing for church-related vocations;
Whereas, in 2005, the Board of Trustees voted to make Blue Mountain Christian 
        University a fully coeducational institution;
Whereas, on October 7, 2022, the Board of Trustees approved changing the name of 
        the institution from Blue Mountain College to Blue Mountain Christian 
        University;
Whereas Blue Mountain Christian University has grown from 50 students to host 
        more than 600 students participating in nine programs of study, 
        including establishing graduate programs in education in 2006, business 
        administration in 2019, and kinesiology in 2023, as well as a School of 
        Nursing in 2022;
Whereas Blue Mountain Christian University has played a significant role in 
        meeting the needs of its constituents for 150 years by educating women 
        in the 1870s following a devastating war, by educating ministers in the 
        mid-1950s when bi-vocational pastors were unable to travel to pursue 
        higher education, by converting to coeducational status in 2005 when the 
        education of both men and women became expedient to enhance community 
        advancement and service, and by establishing a nursing program in the 
        2020s to address a critical shortage of trained personnel in the medical 
        field;
Whereas the inaugural Southern Literary Festival was established at Blue 
        Mountain Christian University in 1937 to foster creative writing and to 
        provide exposure to successful authors;
Whereas Blue Mountain Christian University is renowned for academic excellence 
        in education and ministry, producing both excellent ``teachers and 
        preachers'' in particular and outstanding graduates broadly who are all 
        academically and spiritually prepared to assume places of leadership in 
        their professions and in the faith community;
Whereas Blue Mountain Christian University was a pioneer in women's college 
        athletics on the state and national levels, first by joining the 
        Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and later the 
        National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics;
Whereas the athletic program of the Blue Mountain Christian University Toppers 
        is now composed of 18 men's and women's intercollegiate varsity athletic 
        teams that represent Blue Mountain Christian University in the Southern 
        States Athletic Conference;
Whereas Blue Mountain Christian University is dedicated to supporting the 
        academic success of student athletes while striving for on-field 
        success; and
Whereas hundreds of students of all races, creeds, backgrounds, and beliefs 
        receive a world-class, Christ-centered education at Blue Mountain 
        Christian University: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends Blue Mountain Christian University for its 150 
        years of service to the State of Mississippi and the United 
        States;
            (2) recognizes Blue Mountain Christian University for its 
        academic, faith-based, and athletic excellence; and
            (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
                    (A) the President of Blue Mountain Christian 
                University, Dr. Barbara Childers McMillin;
                    (B) the Provost and Vice President for Academic 
                Affairs of Blue Mountain Christian University, Dr. 
                Sharon Ball Enzor; and
                    (C) the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics of 
                Blue Mountain Christian University, Mr. Will Lowrey.
                                 <all>
```