H.R. No. 22

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, October 12, 2023, marks the 111th anniversary of
	Rice University's formal opening ceremonies, an event that is
	commemorated annually as Rice Day; and
	WHEREAS, On October 12, 1912, students, faculty, and trustees
	of the Rice Institute gathered alongside local and state officials
	and dignitaries from governments and universities around the world
	to celebrate the establishment of a new institution of higher
	learning; in his address, President Edgar Odell Lovett announced
	that Rice would "aspire to university standing of the highest
	grade," while proposing "to assign no upper limit to its
	educational endeavor"; and
	WHEREAS, Since that historic day, Rice has grown tremendously
	in enrollment and academic stature; in recognition of the changing
	and broadening scope of its educational mission, its name was
	changed to William Marsh Rice University on July 1, 1960; today, it
	is a globally oriented, private institution that boasts an
	impressive 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and it
	consistently ranks highly among private universities for best
	quality of life and best value; it is further recognized as one of
	the most diverse private universities, with more than a quarter of
	students classified as minorities and more than 60 countries
	represented in its undergraduate and graduate student bodies; and
	WHEREAS, Rice holds membership in the Association of American
	Universities, an organization consisting of North America's 71
	leading research universities; its faculty and alumni have made
	significant contributions in numerous fields, and alumni have
	notably gone on to win the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize, and
	Olympic gold medals, to set records for human spaceflight, to win
	Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Awards, and to serve in offices as prominent
	as lieutenant governor of Texas; they have helped found such Lone
	Star institutions as Austin City Limits and the Texas Film
	Commission and have made their mark in countless other areas of
	endeavor that have enriched our state and nation; and
	WHEREAS, The achievements of Rice University and its alumni
	have helped to keep Texas at the forefront of research,
	scholarship, and innovation, and the observance of Rice Day
	provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on the long and
	distinguished history of one of our state's most venerated
	educational institutions; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
	Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize October 12,
	2023, as Rice Day and extend sincere best wishes to the university's
	students, faculty, staff, and alumni as they celebrate the 111th
	anniversary of Rice's historic opening ceremonies; and, be it
	further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for the university as an expression of high regard by the
	Texas House of Representatives.
	A. Johnson of Harris
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 22 was adopted by the House on October
	12, 2023, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House