HR0134 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0134 LRB094 10782 CSA 41234 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Mattoon Chamber of Commerce has selected Lake Land College President Robert K. Luther as its 2005 Citizen of the Year; the Chamber and the community recognized Dr. Luther as a contributor to the betterment of life in Mattoon; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Robert K. Luther was born and raised in Charleston and moved back to Coles County to become Lake Land College's fourth president; he plans to retire at the end of the 2005-06 academic year; and

WHEREAS, He previously served as President of Columbia-Greene Community College in New York and Acting President and Vice President of Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg; he received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and his bachelor's and master's degrees from Eastern Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Luther's tenacious leadership and devotion to the community college mission has made Lake Land College a pacesetter throughout the state and nation; under his guidance, Lake Land College has become one of the fastest growing community colleges in Illinois and the nation; in 2005, Lake Land was named among the top 20 (17th) fastest growing two-year public colleges in the nation by Community College Week; and

WHEREAS, More than 10,400 students were enrolled by the end of the spring semester in 2003; nearly 39 percent of the 2004 graduating class from Mattoon High School was enrolled last fall, making it the largest number of students from any area high school attending Lake Land; and

WHEREAS, Under his leadership, Lake Land College has emerged as a leader among Illinois Community Colleges in work force development by providing its students with the education and skills needed for jobs of the future; most local business leaders will agree that one of the main assets of operating in Mattoon is Lake Land College; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Luther has worked hard to ensure that the College continues to be an asset and that the College's programs and services, including the College's Center for Business and Industry, Project PAL, and others benefit business and industry; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Luther has received numerous awards and has served on many boards, including Coles Together, East Central Illinois Development Corporation, and the Coles County 708 Board; he is a past member of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Board of Directors and co-chaired the Coles County Strategic Planning Committee; and

WHEREAS, Due to Dr. Luther's leadership and sense of community, Mattoon and Lake Land College are much better places; he is one of Mattoon's biggest assets; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Robert K. Luther on his selection as Mattoon's 2005 Citizen of the Year and commend him for his dedication to Lake Land College and the community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Robert K. Luther as an expression of our utmost admiration and esteem.