Honor Michael L. Lomax

Senate Resolution No. 1685 BY: Senator COMRIE HONORING Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Humanitarian Award by the National Urban Technology Center, Inc. on June 12, 2019 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Humanitarian Award by the National Urban Technology Center, Inc. to be celebrated at its 24th Annual Gala Awards Dinner on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at the Park Hyatt in New York, New York; and WHEREAS, The National Urban Technology Center was founded in 1995, by former IBM executive Pat Bransford to build innovative technology training programs and provide resources for academic and financial literacy skills in underserved communities; and WHEREAS, For over 24 years, this not-for-profit educational corporation has connected students and families, in under served communities, to digital literacy, financial literacy, comprehensive health education and life skills which are critical to academic and career success; it has also built over 500 technology centers in disadvantaged communities across the country to provide access to jobs; and WHEREAS, Since 2004, Dr. Michael L. Lomax has served as both President and CEO of UNCF, the nation's largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to African American students and a leading advocate of college readiness: students' need for an education, from pre-school through high school, preparing them for college success; and WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, Dr. Michael L. Lomax has overseen UNCF's 400 scholarship programs, which award 10,000 scholarships a year; he also launched the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building, which helps UNCF's 37 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) become stronger, more effective and more self-sustaining; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF has raised more than $1.5 billion and helped more than 110,000 students earn college degrees and launch careers; each year, UNCF's work enables

60,000 students to go to college with scholarships and attend its 37 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs); and WHEREAS, In addition, UNCF has fought for college readiness and education reform through partnerships with reform-focused leaders and organizations, and worked to further advance HBCUs with Congress, the administration and the Department of Education; and WHEREAS, Dr. Michael L. Lomax serves on the boards of the KIPP Foundation, America's Promise, the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of African American History and Culture and the Studio Museum in Harlem; and WHEREAS, Before joining UNCF, Dr. Michael L. Lomax was President of Dillard University in New Orleans and a literature professor at UNCF-member institutions Morehouse and Spelman Colleges; he also founded the National Black Arts Festival and served as Chairman of the Fulton County Commission in Atlanta, the first African American elected to that post; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Humanitarian Award by the National Urban Technology Center, Inc. on June 12, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D.