HR1176

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the 
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administration, staff, and students of Wabash Valley College in 
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Mt. Carmel on the occasion of the college's 50th anniversary; 
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and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Wabash Valley College is a 2-year, coeducational, 
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public community college that is operated by the Illinois 
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Eastern Community Colleges District 529; the college was 
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founded in 1959, when the Board of Education of District 348 
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approved a resolution for the study of providing a junior 
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college as part of the district's educational system; a 
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referendum that was held on December 10, 1960, which passed by 
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more than a 3-to-1 margin, established a junior college, which 
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was named Wabash Valley College; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, On August 1, 1961, Wabash Valley College was moved 
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from its temporary office at the Little Brick School Building 
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to its first home at Bluff College; in its first semester, the 
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college offered 23 courses and 79 hours of weekly instruction 
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from its 21 part-time instructors and 5 full-time instructors; 
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75 full-time and 73 part-time students were enrolled the first 
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year; and
  
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Wabash Valley College grew steadily throughout 
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the early 1960s; on July 14, 1964, the ground was broken for a 
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new building for the college, which was named Main Hall; in 
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September of 1965, 263 full-time and 525 part-time students met 
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for classes in the college's new facility; on July 1, 1969, 
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Wabash Valley College became a part of Junior College District 
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529, which eventually became Illinois Eastern Community 
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Colleges District 529; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1968, Wabash Valley College achieved candidacy 
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status for North Central accreditation; the college was granted 
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full accreditation status during the 1972-1973 school year; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In its 50-year history, Wabash Valley College has 
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graduated over 12,000 students and has instructed thousands of 
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non-graduating students; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Wabash Valley College will celebrate its 50th 
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anniversary beginning on July 31, 2010, with numerous events 
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planned throughout the year; a special "Founders Day" program 
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will be held on December 10, 2010 to celebrate the anniversary 
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of the founding date of the college; therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the administration, staff, and students of Wabash 
 


 






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Valley College on the occasion of the college's 50th 
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anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in 
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the future; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Wabash Valley College Board of Trustees as a 
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symbol of our esteem and respect.