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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Thomas "Tom" Ramage,
4Ed.D., on the occasion of his retirement as president of
5Parkland College, Illinois Community College District #505;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage, the fifth president of Parkland
8College, will retire at the end of the Fall 2022 semester after
915 years as president and 25 years of service to the
10institution; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The conclusion of Dr. Ramage's career will
12coincide with Parkland College enrolling its 350,000th student
13this academic year since its inception in 1966 and its first
14academic year in 1967; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Under Dr. Ramage's leadership, Parkland College
16completed a $92 million Campus Master Plan that created six
17new buildings on campus, adding 250,000 square feet of
18classrooms, labs, and student services spaces to provide
19quality education and training facilities for students
20residing within the 3,000 square mile district; and
 
21    WHEREAS, During Dr. Ramage's tenure, Parkland College has

 

 

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1continued to adapt to the changing needs of industry by
2acquiring the Institute of Aviation at Willard Airport from
3the University of Illinois in 2014 and by forming lasting
4relationships with corporate partners, including Case New
5Holland, AGCO, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Ford Motor Company,
6Frasca International, and Kraft, among others; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage's oversight has permitted Parkland
8College to continue leading the Illinois community college
9system by enrolling more than 350 international students,
10representing well over 50 countries, each academic year; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage's steady leadership and fiscal
12management have guided Parkland College through a recession, a
13state budget crisis, and a pandemic; despite these challenges,
14he ensured Parkland College maintained a balanced budget and a
15healthy fund balance; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage will continue to reside in Champaign
17County with his wife, Michelle, his son, Colin, his
18daughter-in-law, Megan, and his grandson, Sean Thomas, as
19valued members of the community; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage leaves behind a legacy of excellence
21and has set Parkland College on a trajectory of success;
22therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we congratulate Thomas "Tom" Ramage, Ed.D., on his retirement
4from Parkland College, thank him for his leadership and
5service to the institution, and wish him all the best in his
6future endeavors; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to Dr. Ramage as a symbol of our esteem and resect.