HR0921 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0921 LRB102 28533 MST 40410 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Christine J. Sobek on her retirement as president of Waubonsee Community College after 21 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Since Dr. Sobek began her role as president on July 1, 2001, Waubonsee Community College has served 189,429 students earning 2,829,005 credit hours; through her vision and steadfast leadership, the college has grown in stature locally and regionally across four permanent campuses located in the 624-square-mile college district; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek's efforts transformed and strengthened the college by achieving its infrastructure growth outlined in the 2020 College Master Plan five years earlier than projected and under budget; and

WHEREAS, Under Dr. Sobek's stewardship, the college saw its most recent significant expansion with the construction of five new buildings on the college's Sugar Grove Campus, the opening of the new Aurora Downtown Campus location, and the opening of the new Plano Campus; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek has long championed the college's commitment to student equity and success; and

WHEREAS, Under Dr. Sobek's leadership, Waubonsee was one of the first community colleges in Illinois to obtain the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation; and

WHEREAS, The college re-engineered what student success means for its more than 30% Latinx students and many first-generation students, by having candid conversations around access, retention, and graduation completion; these efforts resulted in the college securing three Title V grants totaling almost $9 million received since 2010; Waubonsee Community College has used this funding to drive necessary student programming, such as the opening of a Latinx Resource Center (LRC), located at the Aurora Downtown Campus; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Sobek has led highly comprehensive funding initiatives that increased funding for student scholarships by more than 300 percent in college history; and

WHEREAS, During disruptions brought by conditions of the pandemic, Dr. Sobek also worked with numerous stakeholders at the college to assure students could still complete their academic goals; the college created one-time, college-funded scholarships and grants in the amount of $2.4 million for students; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek believes in enthusiastically giving back to the community and is active within the Waubonsee community; she has served on the City of Aurora Education Commission, the Rush-Copley Medical Center Board of Directors, the Marmion Academy Board of Trustees, the Invest Aurora Board of Directors, the Mutual Ground Advisory Board, the Conservation Foundation Leadership Board, and many more regional and statewide advisory groups; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of Dr. Sobek's 21 years of distinguished service, commitment, leadership, and contributions as president of the college, the Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustees also approved the bestowing of the honorary title of president emeritus upon her retirement; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek earned a doctoral degree from Northern Illinois University, a master's degree from Michigan State University, and a bachelor's degree from Purdue University with Highest Distinction; she is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society; she also completed Harvard University's Seminar for Experienced Presidents; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek has been the recipient of many honors, including being selected as one of Chicago's Notable Women in Education sponsored by Crain Chicago's Business, the Outstanding Alumni Award from Northern Illinois University, the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, an Influential Women in Business award sponsored by The Business Ledger, the Michigan State University College of Education Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, a Quad County Urban League Lifetime Achievement Award, and the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations District 3 Pacesetter of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Sobek's transformational leadership at Waubonsee Community College has profoundly impacted countless lives across the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Christine J. Sobek on her retirement, commend her dedication, service, and enormous contribution as president of Waubonsee Community College, and wish her well in all of her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Sobek as a symbol of our respect and esteem.