Staples Honored by Local Schools

6-27-04
By Danielle Treadway
Jacksonville Daily Progress News Writer

Faculty, staff and students from Jacksonville College and Lon Morris College; City of Jacksonville officials; and the president of Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT) crowded into the Watson Room in the library of Jacksonville College to recognize Senator Todd Staples for his outstanding service Friday morning.

Stapes mingled in the crowded room, discussing many topics, and he said he was equally as proud of the people in the room as they were of him.

“ICUT has a long history of providing education for Texas,” Staples said. “It is so important to have such an organization in the legislation process.”

McDonald said she commends Staples for his service in the Senate Finance Committee and carrying legislation to the correct source..

“A health code legislation ws passed showing the ICUT institutions to be inspected as youth camps for the summer,” Mc Donald said.

McDonald said Staples helped get the legislation through twice until UCUT institutions were not seen as youth camps. She said Staples also helped persuade the recent 20 percent reduction in Tuition Equalization Grants (TEG) back to only a reduction of 14.5 percent.

“Without TEG, I would not be able to be here,” said Jack Cleveland, first-year student at Jacksonville College. “It pays the biggest portion of my tuition.”

McDonald said there are over 30,000 students who need TEG.

Dr. Edwin Crank, president of Jacksonville College, and Dr. Clifford Lee, president of Lon Morris College, joked about the upcoming rivalry at the Region XIV basketball tournament, but they were serious in the comments about Staples.

“Senator Staples has been a tremendous help to all of the colleges in the his district,” Lee said, “private and public.”

Lee said every time Staples is called with a need, he has responded. He said Staples really does care about Jacksonville College and Lon Morris College.

Crank reinforced Lee’s praise.