HR233: HR233 Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol; February 18, 2025; recognize

25 LC 112 2932 House Resolution 233 By: Representatives Berry of the 56th and Jones of the 60th A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 18, 2025, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol; and for1 other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University was established in 1988 upon the consolidation of its3 two parent institutions: Atlanta University, founded in 1865 by the American Missionary4 Association, and Clark University, founded in 1869 by the Freed men's Aid Society of the5 Methodist Episcopal Church and later renamed Clark College; and6 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University was the nation's first four-year liberal arts college to7 serve a primarily African American student population; and8 WHEREAS, the university's four schools offer 40 academic progra ms to 3,920 students9 annually, contributing to the future workforce through training in technology, engineering,10 and education as well as fostering leadership within Georgia; and11 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University has launched its first compre hensive campaign,12 Centered on Lifting Lives and Leading the Way, a ten-year initiative aimed at raising $25013 million to support catalytic investments in students, faculty, infrastructure, and research,14 including efforts to cure prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease, promote entrepreneurship,15 H. R. 233 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2932 and address social and racial injustices, distinguishing Clark Atlanta University as an16 institution of choice; and17 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University received a record-breaking 46,414 applications for the18 Class of 2028, marking a 6 percent increase from the previous y ear and an 18 percent19 increase since 2022, with an average admitted first-time freshman GPA of 3.7, up from 2.920 in 2021; and21 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University's economic impact on the State of Georgia consists of22 $541 million in combined gross sales, a direct impact of $400 million, and labor producing23 3,282 full- and part-time jobs that contribute to Georgia's economy; and24 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is a founding member of the G eorgia Research25 Alliance and is home to the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, one26 of the nation's largest academic prostate cancer research cente rs, which provides27 opportunities for high-caliber basic and translational research, trains the next generation of28 scientists in cancer research, and offers an educational environment for community outreach,29 prevention, early detection, and the treatment of prostate cancer; and30 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University additionally houses the Cente r for Innovation and31 Entrepreneurial Development, one of the nation's most progressi ve forums integrating32 traditional academics with market research, intelligence, and i nnovation to enhance the33 competitiveness of the university's graduates and local entrepreneurs; and34 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is the first private historically Black university to host35 a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, America's most prestigious honor so ciety for all academic36 disciplines, in addition to the Golden Key International Honour Society, the Phi Eta Sigma37 H. R. 233 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2932 Honor Society, the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, and several di scipline-specific honor38 societies; and39 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is an important contributor t o local, regional, and40 national communities, engaging more than 1,000 student and faculty volunteers annually in41 service to local nonprofit organizations; supporting the educat ional systems of Fulton,42 DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and nearby Georgia counties; and continuing to reach43 beyond the campus footprint to address critical issues through purposeful service; and44 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is home to WCLK Jazz 91.9 FM, Atlanta's jazz45 station, which is celebrating 50 years of service to the community; and46 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University has produced stellar alumni w ho constitute47 irreplaceable threads in the fabric of the State of Georgia and America as a whole, including48 Fletcher Henderson, AU '19; Grace Towns Hamilton, AU '27; Irma Jackson Clayton Wertz,49 AU '35; Evelyn Gibson Lowery, CC '46; Mary Frances Early, CC '57; The Honorable Brenda50 Hill Cole, AU '67; Georgia State Representative Sheila Jones, CC 74-78; Kenny Leon, CC51 '79; Helen Smith Price, AU '81; Georgia State Senator Horacena Tate, AU '88, CAU '92;52 Anthony White, CAU '99; Bomani Jones, CAU '01; Tharon Johnson, CAU '02; and Lorin53 Crawford, CAU '13; and54 WHEREAS, under the leadership of President Dr. George T. French Jr., Clark Atlanta55 University has received the largest unrestricted donation in the university's history, and Dr.56 French has stewarded the addition of the Propel Center, which w ill support Clark Atlanta57 University, the Atlanta University Center, and the entire HBCU community, which includes58 more than 100 colleges and universities, through a robust virtual platform accessible to all59 HBCU students and faculty. Founding partners Apple and Southern Company, along with60 H. R. 233 - 3 - 25 LC 112 2932 strategic partner the Walt Disney Company, have each made major investments toward the61 development and launch of the center.62 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that63 the members of this body recognize and commend Clark Atlanta Un iversity as well as64 President Dr. George T. French Jr. for his leadership, extensive experience, and unwavering65 dedication to higher education; he serves as the longest-tenure d HBCU president in the66 nation and has worked tirelessly to attract talented scholars to the State of Georgia.67 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body recognize February 18, 2025,68 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol.69 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized70 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Clark71 Atlanta University and President Dr. George T. French Jr.72 H. R. 233 - 4 -