| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution commending Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin. |
| 3 |
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| 4 | WHEREAS, Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin was born May 4, 1929, in |
| 5 | Detroit, Michigan, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in |
| 6 | Biology from Sienna Heights College and a Master of Science |
| 7 | Technology Degree in Biology and a Ph.D. Degree in Educational |
| 8 | Administration from the University of Arizona, and began her |
| 9 | career in education in 1950 when she started teaching, and |
| 10 | WHEREAS, in 1981, Sister Jeanne became President of Barry |
| 11 | University and in the 23 ensuing years, employing her |
| 12 | extraordinary leadership skills, has led the university to |
| 13 | unprecedented growth, diversity, and prosperity, raising over |
| 14 | $200 million, increasing scholarship funds to $29 million |
| 15 | annually, increasing enrollment from 1,750 to 9,042, doubling |
| 16 | the number of the university academic schools from 5 to 10, |
| 17 | adding 38 new buildings, and planting more than 2,000 new trees |
| 18 | on the expanding Miami Shores campus, and |
| 19 | WHEREAS, dedicated to empowering women and minorities |
| 20 | through higher education, Sister Jeanne has led to the |
| 21 | university's recognition as the most diverse institution of |
| 22 | higher learning in the Southeastern United States for the past |
| 23 | seven years, according to U.S. News & World Report, and |
| 24 | WHEREAS, a dynamic leader among professional educators and |
| 25 | selflessly committed to community service, Sister Jeanne has |
| 26 | actively participated in and led numerous prestigious |
| 27 | educational organizations and has been honored on many |
| 28 | occasions, including her having received the "First Annual Life |
| 29 | Enrichment Award" from B'nai B'rith Women of South Coastal |
| 30 | Regions, the "Women Who Make a Difference Award" from the Young |
| 31 | Women's Christian Association of Greater Miami, the "Peace and |
| 32 | Unity Award" from the St. Martin De Porres Association, and the |
| 33 | Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal from Pope John-Paul II for |
| 34 | service to the Catholic Church, and |
| 35 | WHEREAS, on June 30, 2004, Sister Jeanne will end her |
| 36 | service as President of Barry University and commence a 1-year |
| 37 | sabbatical, during which she plans to finish her book of memoirs |
| 38 | entitled "Who is Love?" and lead a mission to help create |
| 39 | schools for women in other countries, with plans to return to |
| 40 | Barry University in 2005 to serve as its Chancellor, NOW, |
| 41 | THEREFORE, |
| 42 |
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| 43 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 44 | Florida: |
| 45 |
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| 46 | That Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin is commended for her |
| 47 | remarkable accomplishments as a professional educator and for |
| 48 | her countless contributions to the residents of Miami-Dade |
| 49 | County. |
| 50 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be |
| 51 | presented to Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin as a tangible token of the |
| 52 | sentiments expressed herein. |