The Texas State Senate – Press Items: Senator Judith Zaffirini

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2006

Contact: Nick Almanza
(512) 463-0121

SENATOR ZAFFIRINI RECEIVES LAMAR MEDAL FOR CHAMPIONING HIGHER EDUCATION

(AUSTIN) - Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, today (Monday) received the Mirabeau B. Lamar medal from the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities (ATCU) for her outstanding support of and advocacy for Texas higher education. Nominated by Dr. Flavius Killebrew, president of Texas A&M at Corpus Christi, she was chosen by ATCU's Lamar medal selection committee for championing higher education in general and public and private colleges and universities throughout the state.

"I truly am delighted to receive this prestigious award because higher education is my passion," Senator Zaffirini said. "The Lamar medal is an outstanding award named for the 'Father of Texas Education.' It's previous recipients have carried Lamar's vision of ensuring statewide educational resources to generations of Texas students, a worthy goal for all of us."

ATCU is composed of presidents and chancellors from public and private colleges and universities throughout the state, including community and junior colleges.

Senator Zaffirini has won more than 550 awards for her professional and public service work, including more than 94 for communication projects. She continues to receive awards for her public service and professional work. Awards received this year include the Texas Advocacy Award from the American Cancer Society, the Texas Hospital Advocacy Tribute from the Texas Hospital Association, being named an honorary nun by the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Ministries of Laredo, and honored as "Our Founding Leader in Health Education" by the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC), and the inaugural "Excellence in Patient Advocacy Award" from the Texas Dental Association (TDA) for her leadership in addressing dental issues in the Texas Legislature.

This year Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appointed Senator Za ffirini Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education. The subcommittee is charged with studying the costs of tuition and student fees, studying means to improve accessibility and examining student performance and teacher preparation programs to ensure effectiveness.

Senator Zaffirini sponsored the bill that provided the largest capital investment ever made for Texas higher education. HB 153 authorizes Texas universities to issue $1.9 billion in tuition revenue bonds (TRBs) for capital improvements.

Fourth in seniority in the 31-member Texas Senate, the senator is the namesake of United ISD's Senator Judith Zaffirini Elementary School, Laredo Community College's Senator Judith Zaffirini Library, Lake Casa Blanca International State Park's Senator Judith Zaffirini Road and the Judith Zaffirini Program in Edinburg that focuses on fighting drug addictions of men, women and children. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appointed her Chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Chair of the Subcommittee on Capital Funding for Higher Education, Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and to the Legislative Budget Board, and the Senate Committees on Education, Health and Human Services, International Relations and Trade. She will begin her 20th year in the Texas Senate in 2007.

HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS (L-R) Dr. Charles Timothy (Tim) Summerlin, past president of ATCU, and Dr. Martha Ellis, president of ATCU, present the Mirabeau B. Lamar Medal for championing Texas higher education.

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