Bill Text: IL HR0964 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Dr. Gayle Saunders on her retirement as President of Richland Community College.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2016-02-16 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sue Scherer [HR0964 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR0964-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate Dr. Gayle Saunders on the
occasion of her retirement as President of Richland Community
College in Decatur; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders became the 6th President of Richland
Community College in August of 2001; she has more than 37 years
of experience as an administrator in higher education, with the
past 31 years spent specifically in community college
administration; she served in a variety of administrative
positions prior to being named President of Richland; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Dr. Saunders selected the Academic
Quality Improvement Program for the reaccreditation of
Richland Community College; under her leadership, Richland has
seen the addition of the Scherer Industrial Technology Center
(2002), the Schrodt Health Education Center (2003), the Duane
O. Andreas Agribusiness Education Center (2006), the Adele P.
Glenn Early Childhood Education Center (2007), the Center for
Sustainability and Innovation (2008), the Mathematics
Enrichment Center (2010), the National Sequestration Education
Center (2011), and the Workforce Development Institute (2013)
and the relocation of the Heartland Technical Academy (formerly
the Decatur Area Technical Academy) to the Richland campus

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(2014); the College has seen curriculum additions in the areas
of Culinary Arts; Auto Collision Repair; Diesel Medium/Heavy
Truck Technology; Supply Chain Management; Healthcare
Documentation; Sign Language; Commercial Drivers Tanker
Vehicle Training; Engineering, with an emphasis in Carbon
Capture Utilization and Storage; and Robotic Welding; and
WHEREAS, Under Dr. Saunders' presidency, Decatur was
chosen in 2004 as one of the permanent sites for the Farm
Progress Show; this past September marked the 10th anniversary
of the Farm Progress Show being held on the campus of Richland
Community College; the Richland Community College Foundation
has flourished under her leadership and is ranked among the top
community college foundations in the nation; in June of 2010,
the Foundation announced it had reached its Major Gifts
Campaign goal of $17 million, 2 years ahead of schedule; the
impact of the Foundation is reflected at the local level by the
hundreds of student scholarships it provides, representing
over three-quarters of a million dollars in scholarship support
annually; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders' passion for quality education has
been proven through her efforts in the national arena with the
Continuous Quality Improvement Network (Executive Secretary
and Treasurer), the American Association of Community Colleges
Commission on Economic Development and Workforce Training and

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the Presidents' Academy Executive Committee, the Commission on
Global Education through the American Association of Community
Colleges, and the American Association of Community College
Trustees Presidents' Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders has served in various capacities
throughout her career, including the Illinois Community
College Presidents' Council (past President), the Illinois
Leadership and Core Values Institute (Steering Committee), the
Commission on Global Education through the American
Association of Community Colleges, Rotary International, the
American Red Cross - mid-Illinois Chapter, the United Way of
Decatur and mid-Illinois, and Easter Seals Central Illinois;
she currently serves as a member of Partners in Education
(Steering Committee), the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce
(past President), the Soy Capital Bank and Trust Board of
Directors; Webster-Cantrell Hall, and the Economic Development
Corporation of Decatur and Macon County; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders is a recipient of several awards for
her leadership and community involvement, including the Athena
Award (2004), the YWCA Woman of the Year Award (2006), the
Salute Honoree for Partners in Education (2007), and the Herald
and Review's 20 Over 50 - making a difference in our community
(2014); and

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WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders is a native of Harvard; she holds a
Bachelor of Science in Education from Illinois State
University, a Master of Science in Counseling and Student
Personnel from Eastern Illinois University, and a Doctorate in
Leadership and Educational Policy Studies from Northern
Illinois University; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Saunders will officially retire in the spring
of 2016; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
congratulate Dr. Gayle Saunders on her retirement as President
of Richland Community College and we wish her the best in all
her future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Dr. Saunders as an expression of our esteem and
respect.