Bill Text: IL HR0921 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Dr. Christine J. Sobek on her retirement, commends her dedication, service, and enormous contribution as president of the Waubonsee Community College, and wishes her well in all of her future endeavors.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2022-11-22 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez [HR0921 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HR0921-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Christine J.
Sobek on her retirement as president of Waubonsee Community
College after 21 years of service; and
WHEREAS, Since Dr. Sobek began her role as president on
July 1, 2001, Waubonsee Community College has served 189,429
students earning 2,829,005 credit hours; through her vision
and steadfast leadership, the college has grown in stature
locally and regionally across four permanent campuses located
in the 624-square-mile college district; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek's efforts transformed and strengthened
the college by achieving its infrastructure growth outlined in
the 2020 College Master Plan five years earlier than projected
and under budget; and
WHEREAS, Under Dr. Sobek's stewardship, the college saw
its most recent significant expansion with the construction of
five new buildings on the college's Sugar Grove Campus, the
opening of the new Aurora Downtown Campus location, and the
opening of the new Plano Campus; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek has long championed the college's

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commitment to student equity and success; and
WHEREAS, Under Dr. Sobek's leadership, Waubonsee was one
of the first community colleges in Illinois to obtain the
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation; and
WHEREAS, The college re-engineered what student success
means for its more than 30% Latinx students and many
first-generation students, by having candid conversations
around access, retention, and graduation completion; these
efforts resulted in the college securing three Title V grants
totaling almost $9 million received since 2010; Waubonsee
Community College has used this funding to drive necessary
student programming, such as the opening of a Latinx Resource
Center (LRC), located at the Aurora Downtown Campus; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Sobek has led highly
comprehensive funding initiatives that increased funding for
student scholarships by more than 300 percent in college
history; and
WHEREAS, During disruptions brought by conditions of the
pandemic, Dr. Sobek also worked with numerous stakeholders at
the college to assure students could still complete their
academic goals; the college created one-time, college-funded
scholarships and grants in the amount of $2.4 million for

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students; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek believes in enthusiastically giving
back to the community and is active within the Waubonsee
community; she has served on the City of Aurora Education
Commission, the Rush-Copley Medical Center Board of Directors,
the Marmion Academy Board of Trustees, the Invest Aurora Board
of Directors, the Mutual Ground Advisory Board, the
Conservation Foundation Leadership Board, and many more
regional and statewide advisory groups; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of Dr. Sobek's 21 years of
distinguished service, commitment, leadership, and
contributions as president of the college, the Waubonsee
Community College Board of Trustees also approved the
bestowing of the honorary title of president emeritus upon her
retirement; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek earned a doctoral degree from Northern
Illinois University, a master's degree from Michigan State
University, and a bachelor's degree from Purdue University
with Highest Distinction; she is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and
an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor
Society; she also completed Harvard University's Seminar for
Experienced Presidents; and

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WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek has been the recipient of many honors,
including being selected as one of Chicago's Notable Women in
Education sponsored by Crain Chicago's Business, the
Outstanding Alumni Award from Northern Illinois University,
the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction by Phi Theta Kappa
International Honor Society, an Influential Women in Business
award sponsored by The Business Ledger, the Michigan State
University College of Education Alumni Association
Distinguished Alumni Award, a Quad County Urban League
Lifetime Achievement Award, and the National Council of
Marketing and Public Relations District 3 Pacesetter of the
Year Award; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek's transformational leadership at
Waubonsee Community College has profoundly impacted countless
lives across the community; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate Dr. Christine J. Sobek on her retirement,
commend her dedication, service, and enormous contribution as
president of Waubonsee Community College, and wish her well in
all of her future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Dr. Sobek as a symbol of our respect and esteem.