HR0468 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0468 LRB095 12129 KXB 36888 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the faculty, staff, students, and alumni of Benedictine University in Lisle on the 120th anniversary of the institution; and

WHEREAS, Benedictine University was founded in Chicago as St. Procopius College by the Benedictine Procopius Abbey on March 2, 1887; Father Nepomucene Jaegar was the founder of the college; other teachers during that time are also considered as founders, but only Father Jaegar had the legal authority to establish the school; Father Procopius Neuzil and two other Benedictine monks were the first teachers at the college; and

WHEREAS, It secured a charter from the State of Illinois in 1890 and in 1900 a cornerstone was laid for a building to be erected in a cornfield in Lisle and Benedictine was dedicated in September 1901; in 1914 the abbey was formally moved to that location from Chicago; after additions were added to the building, it housed St. Procopius Abbey, College and Academy, and Seminary; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Father Daniel Kucera in the 1950s, Illinois Benedictine College (now, Benedictine University), received accreditation apart from the academy; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Father Kucera, separate Boards of Trustees were established for the college and academy; and

WHEREAS, From its origins as a school for Czech students with Czech as the lecture language, to becoming the school it is today, Benedictine University has positively impacted many people in 120 years, and we look forward to more accomplishments from this fine institution; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni of Benedictine University on this occasion and wish all involved with Benedictine University continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to William J. Carroll, President of Benedictine University, as a symbol of our respect and esteem.