MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Burton, Barnett, Blackwell, Clarke, Dearing, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), Norwood, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Stone

Senate Concurrent Resolution 600

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING FEBRUARY 21, 2017, AS HIGHER EDUCATION APPRECIATION DAY, WORKING FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE (HEADWAE), AND SETTING THAT DAY APART AS A SPECIAL DAY TO CONGRATULATE AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS OF MISSISSIPPI'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDANCE AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

     WHEREAS, meaningful economic, political and social advancement and, in general, improvement of one's quality of life, is undoubtedly heavily dependent upon and directly correlates with the superior mental training and skills which higher education offers and develops; and

     WHEREAS, the people of Mississippi have reason to take special pride in the vigorous commitment to excellence in higher education which our public and private universities, colleges and community colleges continually demonstrate year after year, fostering, developing and promoting the discovery, transmission and preservation of knowledge for present and future generations of Mississippians; and

     WHEREAS, as proof of the benefits and rewards engendered by our state's public and private institutions of higher learning, one need only observe the large number of productive, responsible and accomplished individuals throughout our state, nation and the world who have pursued and received their formal education and training at one or more of these fine Mississippi institutions; and

     WHEREAS, the success and accomplishments of our state's system of higher education is in large measure attributable to the exceptional academic guidance and training of learned and distinguished instructors who have dedicated themselves to providing a quality of education second to none; and

     WHEREAS, the superior quality of educational instruction has permitted our institutions of higher learning to successfully attract and retain some of the brightest and most academically talented students in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi believes that it is most appropriate to pay special tribute to and bring deserved recognition and attention to those educational instructors and students of our state's public and private universities, colleges and community colleges who exemplify exceptional instructional skills and outstanding academic achievement:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby officially designate February 21, 2017, as Higher Education Appreciation Day, Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE), setting aside that day and encouraging the establishment of such a day as an annual event in order to extend congratulations and express the appreciation of the Legislature and all Mississippians to all of our public and private institutions of higher education and the faculty members and students selected by each of the respective institutions as most representative of the finest traditions in educational instruction and outstanding academic achievement.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be furnished to each 2017 HEADWAE Award recipient, each of Mississippi's public and private universities, colleges and community colleges, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Board for Community Colleges, the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.