HR864 - Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Victoria College.

      H.R. No. 864       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Victoria College is celebrating its 100th   anniversary in 2025; and          WHEREAS, In February 1925, the trustees of the Victoria   Independent School District voted to establish Victoria Junior   College as an extension of Patti Welder High School; fifty-one   students began attending classes on the third floor of the school   that September; later, a college annex was added to the building;   and          WHEREAS, The college moved to its present-day site on Red   River Street in 1949 under an independent board of trustees and a   new name, the Victoria College; facilities included an   administration building with classrooms, a library, a gymnasium, a   student union, an athletic dormitory, and home economics and   industrial arts buildings; between 1958 and 1975, the size of the   campus doubled and many new facilities were completed, among them   an auditorium, a field house, and science, health, and fine arts   buildings; and          WHEREAS, Through the years, Victoria College expanded its   adult education, workforce training, and dual enrollment   offerings; the institution now serves more than 7,000 students   annually; the 60-acre Main Campus has 16 buildings, and the college   also operates the Zelda L. Allen School of Nursing in   Hallettsville, the Museum of the Coastal Bend, the Gonzales Center,   the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, the Liberty Street   Industrial Training Center, and the Emerging Technology Complex;   construction of the new Student Success Center is scheduled for   completion by the end of 2025; and          WHEREAS, Victoria College is committed to providing a   high-quality education while maintaining costs at a third of the   average state university; numerous programs lead to high-demand   careers in such fields as industrial trade, business, public   service, technology, and health care; the administration is guided   by the motto "Our Community, Our College: Improving Lives,   Strengthening Communities," and 70 percent of graduates continue to   live and work in the service area; and          WHEREAS, Since its inception, Victoria College has been a   catalyst for educational attainment, economic growth, and cultural   enrichment, and this milestone in its history provides a welcome   opportunity to celebrate its contributions to the prosperity and   vibrancy of the community; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Victoria   College and extend to all those associated with the institution   sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be   prepared for the college as an expression of high regard by the   Texas House of Representatives.     Louderback     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 864 was adopted by the House on May 1,   2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House