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.