S 1790

Florida Senate - 2026  (NP)    SR 1790
By Senator Simon
3-02373-26  20261790__
1Senate Resolution
2A resolution commending Tallahassee State College for
3its consistent excellence and ongoing commitment to
4student success and designating February 12, 2026, as
5“Tallahassee State College Day.”
6
7WHEREAS, Tallahassee State College, originally established
8in 1966 as Tallahassee Junior College and known as Tallahassee
9Community College from 1970 to 2024, was founded to provide
10access to high-quality education for the residents of Leon,
11Gadsden, and Wakulla Counties, and
12WHEREAS, now in its 60th year, Tallahassee State College
13remains steadfast in its mission to provide a learning
14environment that prepares students for success in a global
15economy by offering higher education pathways, workforce
16opportunities, and civic engagement, and
17WHEREAS, Tallahassee State College is a proud member of the
18esteemed Florida College System, also known as the “Great 28,”
19which has helped Florida earn the distinction of being the No. 1
20state for higher education every year since U.S. News & World
21Report began such a ranking in 2017, and
22WHEREAS, in 2025, Tallahassee State College welcomed more
23than 17,000 credit, noncredit, and continuing education
24students, with nearly 60 percent coming from outside the
25college’s service district, drawn by the strength of its more
26than 100 academic and workforce programs, and
27WHEREAS, Tallahassee State College is the leading transfer
28institution to Florida State University and Florida Agricultural
29and Mechanical University, helping thousands of students
30successfully continue their education and complete bachelor’s
31degrees, and
32WHEREAS, Tallahassee State College was recognized as the
33No. 1 Best Value College in Florida and No. 2 Best Value College
34in the United States by Research.com in its 2026 rankings,
35reflecting the college’s strategic commitment to access and
36affordability, and
37WHEREAS, Tallahassee State College is celebrating the 50th
38anniversary of its dental programs, which have helped educate
39and prepare generations of oral health professionals in the
40region and state, and
41WHEREAS, in partnership with the Florida Dental
42Association, Tallahassee State College launched the Restorative
43Functions for Dental Auxiliaries Certification Program, and the
44college’s dental hygiene program has been designated as an
45official American Board of Dental Examiners testing site for the
46dental hygiene licensure exam, and
47WHEREAS, Tallahassee State College was named the 2025
48Entrepreneurial College of the Year by the National Association
49of Community College Entrepreneurship, recognizing the college’s
50leadership in innovation, community partnerships, and efforts to
51foster entrepreneurial thinking, and
52WHEREAS, Tallahassee State College serves as a powerful
53economic engine for the region, generating an estimated $296.5
54million in annual economic impact, and supports 1 out of every
5564 local jobs across the region, NOW, THEREFORE,
56
57Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
58
59That February 12, 2026, is designated as “Tallahassee State
60College Day” in commendation of its consistent excellence and
61ongoing commitment to student success.
62BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
63the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Dr. Jim
64Murdaugh, the sixth President of Tallahassee State College, as a
65tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.