Bill Text: IL HR0744 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Recognizes Martin J. and Patricia Blunt Koldyke on their life-long mission to raise the quality of teaching and learning in Chicago.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-09-02 - Resolution Adopted [HR0744 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR0744-Introduced.html


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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Martin J. "Mike" and Patricia Blunt Koldyke have
3made it their life-long mission to raise the quality of
4teaching and learning in Chicago; and
5 WHEREAS, After graduating from Purdue University and
6serving as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Counter
7Intelligence Corps, Mike Koldyke founded the Frontenac
8Company, a Chicago-based private equity firm, in 1971, and
9served as its Chairman until his retirement; and
10 WHEREAS, A graduate of Vassar College, Pat Koldyke began
11her career at Harper's Bazaar Magazine in New York before
12moving to Chicago with her husband in 1961; and
13 WHEREAS, The Koldykes were inspired while watching the
14Academy Awards on TV in the mid-80s to create a similar awards
15program for teachers to recognize excellence in teaching and
16the contributions of teachers in building a stronger,
17better-educated society; and
18 WHEREAS, Every year since 1986, The Golden Apple Foundation
19has chosen 10 outstanding teachers to receive this prestigious
20award; and

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1 WHEREAS, Recipients of the Golden Apple Award become
2lifetime members of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators,
3which conceives, develops, and supports programs for teachers
4to make them more effective in the classroom; and
5 WHEREAS, For 30 years, Golden Apple has recognized gifted
6teachers and provided them with the preparation and
7professional development they need for immediate and lasting
8success in the classroom, with a special emphasis on
9disadvantaged schools; and
10 WHEREAS, The Golden Apple Scholars program has prepared
11more than 1,000 teachers who are raising student achievement in
12some of Illinois' most challenging teaching environments; and
13 WHEREAS, The exceptional leadership and public service
14provided by the Koldykes continues to transform teaching and
15learning in the Chicago region and beyond, particularly for
16underprivileged students; and
17 WHEREAS, Mike Koldyke serves as Chairman Emeritus of the
18Golden Apple Foundation, and he and Pat continue to serve on
19the board of the Golden Apple Foundation; and
20 WHEREAS, In 1992, Mike Koldyke was appointed by both Mayor
21Richard M. Daley and Governor Jim Edgar as Chair of the Chicago

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1School Finance Authority, and by President Clinton to serve on
2the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence
3for Hispanic Americans; and
4 WHEREAS, After reading about Native Americans being passed
5over by college recruiters, Mike Koldyke was instrumental in
6developing a program at the New Mexico Highlands University to
7improve the recruitment and mentoring of Native Americans; and
8 WHEREAS, Since 2005, the Koldykes have sponsored Chicago
9Public School children, many of whom have never been out of
10Chicago, for a trip to Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in
11Colorado and a cowboy experience at their ranch; and
12 WHEREAS, In 1986, the Koldykes established the Chicago
13Council on Global Affairs' Patricia Blunt Koldyke Fellowship in
14Social Entrepreneurship to recognize emerging leaders who are
15transforming society through innovative solutions to pressing
16global challenges; and
17 WHEREAS, Pat Koldyke has also served on the boards of
18Children's Memorial Hospital, the Erikson Institute, the
19Northwestern Memorial Foundation, the Chicago Council on
20Global Affairs, the Brain Research Foundation, and the Persons
21with Disabilities Fund at the Chicago Community Trust; Mike
22Koldyke has served on the boards of After School Matters,

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1Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico, WTTW Communications,
2Inc., Chicago Public Education Fund, Big Shoulders Fund, The
3Economic Club of Chicago, and others; he has been a trustee of
4Northwestern University, Ravinia, The Brookings Institution,
5Choate Rosemary Hall, Joffrey Ballet, and Common Cause;
6therefore, be it
7 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9Pat and Mike Koldyke, on the 30th Anniversary of the Golden
10Apple Foundation, are recognized for providing the passion,
11leadership, and vision of the Golden Apple Foundation as one
12dedicated to transforming teaching and learning in the Chicago
13region and throughout all of Illinois; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That Pat and Mike Koldyke are commended for
15developing the Golden Apple Foundation's legacy of focus on
16preparing resilient and successful new teachers for the
17profession of education through the Golden Apple Scholars of
18Illinois Program; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That Pat and Mike Koldyke are commended for their
20inspired belief that excellent teachers are critical to a
21student's success, especially with regard to students from
22schools of need; and be it further

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1 RESOLVED, That Pat and Mike Koldyke are recognized for
2their bold commitment to education in the State of Illinois,
3through the new growth trajectory of the Golden Apple
4Foundation, which aspires to double the annual cohort of Golden
5Apple Scholars in Illinois by 2018; and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to Pat and Mike Koldyke as an expression of our
8esteem and respect.
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