HR0087 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0087 LRB098 10792 MST 41232 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Illinois Community College Board President and Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Obrzut on the occasion of his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Geoffrey Obrzut has served the citizens of the State of Illinois in government for more than 30 years; he has served as State Representative for the 52nd district in the Illinois General Assembly, where he represented both Triton College and Oakton Community College; he was a member of the Triton College Board of Trustees in River Grove from 1981-1987; and

WHEREAS, Geoffrey Obrzut has served as past officer and chairman of the State Relations Committee of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association; he was awarded the Illinois Community College Trustees Association "Outstanding Alumnus of the Year" award in 1986 and the Illinois Student Association "Outstanding Service Award" in 1992; he served as chairman of the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges from July 2009 through June 2010; and

WHEREAS, Geoffrey Obrzut initiated the formation of the ICCB Latino Advisory Committee in March 2008; the committee, composed of statewide advocates on Latino educational issues, members of community colleges, and representatives from partner agencies, have helped inform the Illinois community college system on student needs, the best educational practices, and legislation that affects the Latino student population; and

WHEREAS, Prior to coming to the Illinois Community College Board, Geoffrey Obrzut was the director of the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Geoffrey Obrzut received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield in Political Science and graduated from Triton College in River Grove; he graduated from West Leyden High School in 1970; while at West Leyden High School and Triton College he was active in the environmental movement, founding a group called SOAP (Students Organized Against Pollution); he played competitive sports, serving as captain of his high school and college basketball teams; and

WHEREAS, The ICCB is the State coordinating board for the community colleges in Illinois; the State is home to 48 community colleges in 39 districts and has the third largest community college system enrollment in the nation; under his leadership, the ICCB has undertaken a Homeland Security and Campus Safety Initiative, advocated for additional resources for adult education and family literacy, and completed comprehensive reports on textbook costs, baccalaureate degree access, and funding of Illinois Veterans and National Guard Grants; and

WHEREAS, Geoffrey Obrzut's retirement will become official on June 30, 2013; he was first appointed by the board as president and CEO in January of 2004; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Illinois Community College Board President and Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Obrzut on his retirement and we wish him well in all his future endeavours; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Geoffrey Obrzut as an expression of our esteem and respect.