2003 GENERAL SESSION

STATE OF UTAH

Sponsor: ?

            This resolution of the Senate supports the achievements and work done by the Utah Academic Decathlon as subsidized and sponsored by Dixie State College of Utah, and also recognizes, with a vote of thanks, the efforts done by Utah State University for sponsoring both Engineering State and the Academic Olympiad, as also the Science Olympiad hosted by Weber Sate University. This resolution recognizes and encourages all Utah high schools in their efforts to pursue academic achievements and expresses leadership support for competitive excellence as individuals and as schools in Utah, with a direct vote of thanks aimed at Dixie State College for its efforts, over the past twenty years, for running the Utah Academic Decathlon and for representing the State of Utah at the United States National Academic Decathlon.

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Utah:

WHEREAS, academic excellence is achieved in Utah despite the fiscal challenges the State of Utah faces,

WHEREAS, funding and support of athletics and sports related events in Utah far exceeds the support given to academic competitions in Utah communities,

WHEREAS, such costs in any single sports-related competition far exceed the budget needs of all academic competitions in the same school,

WHEREAS, the UHSAA (Utah High School Activities Association) represents mostly sports and only those events that do not go beyond the state borders, and subsequently offers neither support nor budget assistance for such events, and

WHERAS, many schools struggle to build teams to compete in academics due to a lack of financial and other support, and

WHERAS, many Academic Decathlon organizations are fully sponsored by corporate sponsorship and state leadership in other states, and

WHEREAS, Dixie State College has, with no financial assistance by the state, offered both leadership support and an annual budget of $10,000 to operate the Utah Academic Decathlon, even in times of economic difficulty, and

WHEREAS, students with exceptional achievements in the areas of speech, science, technology, math, social studies, history, essay, etc. deserve our valued recognition equal to athletic accomplishment, and

WHEREAS, thousands of Utah educators and volunteers spend their energy and expertise toward promoting self-worth through educational achievements to expand horizons, and

WHEREAS, the Utah Senate acknowledges the need for collaborative efforts providing business, community, and state support of academic excellence as written in many bills and resolutions:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the State of Utah gives both its recognition and financial support to sustain the efforts done with the Utah Academic Decathlon in order to sponsor academic excellence as seen among high school students who represent their schools and the state of Utah at the national level.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate recognizes and encourages additional business partnerships aimed at supporting scholastic recognition of all successes in competitive academic events,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate recognizes, honors, and encourages Utah high school students in their efforts to pursue achievements, personal and competitive, in alls areas of study, for which purpose public education serves,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution should be sent to the Utah State Board of Education, the Utah State Board of Regents, the Utah State Office of Education, the Utah Manufacturers Association, the Utah Library Association, the Utah Partnership for Education and Economic Development, Utah State University, Weber State University, Dixie State College of Utah, and the Utah Education Association.

 

Written by Keith R. Kelsch