IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 478 
Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Ottawa University in Ottawa, 
Kansas. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 9, 2015 
Ms. JENKINS of Kansas submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Ottawa University 
in Ottawa, Kansas. 
Whereas the Ottawa Indians were aboriginal inhabitants of 
lands in the Great Lakes area of the United States; 
Whereas the Ottawa were victims of the Federal Govern-
ment’s Removal Policy of the 1830s, losing all of the ab-
original lands, fragmenting their population, and result-
ing in a band of Ottawa moving to Kansas; 
Whereas the Ottawa established a new community in Kansas 
and made positive contributions to the settlement of Kan-
sas, including their offering of lands for what became Ot-
tawa University; 
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•HRES 478 IH 
Whereas Ottawa University traces its roots to a strong part-
nership between Baptist missionaries and the Ottawa In-
dian tribe that began prior to Kansas’ statehood; 
Whereas, in 1837, the Reverend Jotham Meeker, his wife, El-
eanor Richardson Meeker, and their children moved to 
the banks of the Marais des Cygnes River to devote 
themselves to serving as ministers, physicians, teachers, 
and counselors to the Ottawa Indian tribespeople who 
had recently been moved to the area; 
Whereas Reverend Meeker inspired others, including John 
Tecumseh ‘‘Tauy’’ Jones to take up this work of building 
a vibrant partnership with the tribal leaders; 
Whereas this partnership between the Kansas Baptist de-
nomination and the Ottawa Indian Tribe, under Tauy 
Jones’ leadership, led to the foundation, in 1865, of a 
school dedicated to the benefit of the children of the Ot-
tawa people, placed on 20,000 acres of land offered by 
the Tribe to support the establishment of the institution; 
Whereas the original charter was to form a boarding school 
for tribal children and both parties quickly recognized the 
importance of offering a college-level education and the 
appreciation by members of the Tribe, the Baptists, and 
the people of Ottawa that a college would serve as an 
economic growth engine for the emerging community 
around the Marais des Cygnes River; 
Whereas Ottawa University’s Christian heritage and respect-
ful partnership with the Ottawa Indians remains alive 
and powerful today, evidenced by the 2008 agreement be-
tween Kevin Eichner, President of the University, and 
Chief John Ballard of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma to 
grant, in perpetuity, free tuition and room and board to 
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•HRES 478 IH 
all certified tribal members who wish to attend either the 
residential college in Ottawa, Kansas, or any of Ottawa 
University’s adult on-ground or online programs. This 
agreement has been widely embraced and celebrated by 
faculty, alumni, board members, and friends of the Uni-
versity and by tribal members as emblematic of the insti-
tution’s core mission and principles and its enduring 
commitment to serve the mutual purposes of its founders; 
Whereas, throughout its history, Ottawa University has pur-
sued an innovative approach to higher education’s role in 
society. In the 1970s, Ottawa was one of the first to em-
brace a growing demand for programs specifically tai-
lored to the needs of adult students, opening an adult 
campus in Kansas City in 1974, in Phoenix in 1977, in 
Brookfield, Wisconsin, in 1992, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, 
in 2002, and in Chandler, Arizona, in 2009. The univer-
sity also began offering degree programs exclusively on-
line in 2008; 
Whereas Ottawa University’s mission is to provide the high-
est quality liberal arts and professional education in a 
caring, faith-centered community of grace, which inte-
grates learning and life; 
Whereas Ottawa University serves more than 4,800 students 
from 49 states and 16 countries; 
Whereas Ottawa University employs more than 200 Kansans 
as faculty and staff who are equally committed to ensur-
ing that each and every student receives personal atten-
tion and the highest quality education that honors the 
school’s mission and history; 
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•HRES 478 IH 
Whereas there are more than 23,000 distinguished graduates 
of Ottawa University serving their communities, profes-
sions, and churches around the world; 
Whereas Ottawa University has grown from a single building 
to a comprehensive, global institution of higher learning 
dedicated to an aspiration to serve as a beacon for edu-
cating students for lifetimes of enlightened faith, exem-
plary service, inspired leadership, and personal growth 
and significance; and 
Whereas Ottawa University’s commitment to education exem-
plifies the best of Kansas’ past, present, and future and 
serves as an inspiration to all Kansans: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives com-
mends and celebrates the 150th Anniversary of Ottawa 
University in Ottawa, Kansas as it inspires its students 
to lead with competence and character. 
Æ 
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