1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring Rochester Community and Technical College President Don Supalla for
1.3receiving the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award.
1.4WHEREAS, Don Supalla, a southeastern Minnesota native and alumnus of Rochester
1.5State Junior College, has been associated with higher education for 40 years, serving in such roles
1.6as instructor and administrator; Don holds baccalaureate and master's degrees, both in business
1.7education, from Winona State University, and has been the President of Rochester Community
1.8and Technical College since 1997; and
1.9WHEREAS, President Supalla's areas of expertise are community partnerships and
1.10continuous improvement, and he has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards over the
1.11years; during his tenure, President Supalla has brought a spirit of teamwork and an emphasis on
1.12learning to the campus, consistently demonstrating vision and leadership; and
1.13WHEREAS, President Supalla has led Rochester Community and Technical College into
1.14its position as an inclusive, inviting, and innovative place, and is a true asset to the community; and
1.15WHEREAS, retiring college presidents, campus chief executive officers, and state
1.16community college directors are nominated by their Phi Theta Kappa chapters and selected for the
1.17Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award based on the outstanding support that they have
1.18provided to Phi Theta Kappa over many years; and
1.19WHEREAS, in its nomination submission for President Supalla, Rochester Community
1.20and Technical College's Phi Theta Kappa Omnicron chapter noted that "President Supalla has
1.21far surpassed any requirements in the hallmark areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Fellowship,
1.22and Service"; and
2.1WHEREAS, President Supalla has been selected as a recipient of the Michael Bennett
2.2Lifetime Achievement Award by Phi Theta Kappa International, a tremendous honor deserving of
2.3special legislative recognition; and
2.4NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.5commends Rochester Community and Technical College President Don Supalla for receiving the
2.6Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award, and extends best wishes to him for the future.
2.7BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
2.8enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
2.9Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to President Don Supalla.

JoAnne M. ZoffSecretary of the Senate

Thomas M. BakkChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Carla J. NelsonState Senator, District 26