On the recordSeptember 14, 2010
I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise to support House Resolution 1571, acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of Florida. Miami Dade College was founded in 1960, 50 years ago. Only half a decade later, the college had increased its enrollment by 300 percent. As has been mentioned, as the first racially integrated junior college in Florida, Miami Dade College provided an education to all area residents who wanted to better their lives and further their education. Today, almost 100,000 students are enrolled on the eight campuses year round, and if you count part-time students, it increases that number significantly. MDC is now the largest institution in the Florida college system, and it works to educate a diverse student population by offering 300 majors and by providing an affordable education to students from all backgrounds. The college holds several annual events that benefit both students and members of the community. The Miami Dade College's Miami International Book Fair and the Miami International Film Festival are two such events that are nationally and internationally renowned. I congratulate Miami Dade College for 50 years of excellence in higher education, and I wish all of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni continued success. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
