1.1A Senate resolution
1.2recognizing Cherpheng Thao as an educator and Hmong cultural preserver.
1.3WHEREAS, Cherpheng Thao was born on May, 5, 1953, in Hukinnei, Xieng Khouang
1.4province, Laos, to Chong Lor Thao and Xia Lor. He married Mee Lee Thao in Ban Vinai Refugee
1.5Camp in Thailand on December 10, 1979. As a responsible father, he did his best raising eight
1.6children, including five girls and three boys; and
1.7WHEREAS, Cherpheng came to the United States as a refugee in early 1980, resided in
1.8Apple Valley for three years, and moved to St. Paul in 1983. He completed his bachelor's degree
1.9in marketing education at the University of Wisconsin - Stout and his master's degree in education
1.10administration from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Minneapolis; and
1.11WHEREAS, Cherpheng worked as a case manager in nonprofit organizations for a total of
1.12nine years, running a refugee program. His passion in life is education: he worked in public schools
1.13for 34 years as a math and social studies teacher at various grade levels; and
1.14WHEREAS, he volunteered at the Hmong Cultural Center from 1994 to 2015, serving as
1.15the secretary and later as the president. Due to his effort and dedication, the center was able to
1.16establish and provide cultural education and English classes in the community and was the first
1.17organization to teach citizenship classes; and
1.18WHEREAS, Cherpheng became a proud United States citizen on August 18, 1993. He was
1.19a community leader for his Thao clan, serving the Thao Kue of Minnesota as a secretary from 1994
1.20to 2018; and
1.21WHEREAS, Cherpheng believes that the key to success in the United States is education.
1.22He is proud to say that all of his eight children completed higher education. He has one child who
1.23has a PhD and seven have bachelor's degrees. Their professions include police officer, educational
1.24researcher, accounting manager, and bank examiner, and another is a future dentist; and
2.1WHEREAS, he retired in 2011 and is now an avid farmer. Cherpheng endured open-heart
2.2surgeries in 2015, 2016, and 2023. He enjoys spending time with his nine grandchildren. In the
2.3eyes of his children and grandchildren, he is a superhero for overcoming his health issues; and
2.4WHEREAS, Cherpheng has worked tirelessly to provide quality cultural education for
2.5thousands of kids and to preserve the Hmong culture; and
2.6NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.7commends Cherpheng Thao for being a lifelong educator and Hmong cultural preserver and
2.8celebrates his legacy of dedication and outstanding public service to the community for more than
2.940 years.
2.10BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
2.11enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
2.12Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Cherpheng Thao.

Tom BotternSecretary of the Senate

Erin P. MurphyChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Foung HawjState Senator, District 67