WHEREAS, Walla Walla Community College is realizing its vision to be one of the most innovative, professional, responsive, and successful service-oriented rural community colleges in the United States; and
     WHEREAS, The Aspen Institute selected Walla Walla Community College from among the nation's more than 1,000 public community colleges to be the co-winner of the 2013 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America's community colleges; and
     WHEREAS, In the late 1990s, the town of Walla Walla was facing economic uncertainty due to the decline of the local agriculture industry; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla Community College recognized this as an opportunity to train the workforce in a program tailored to the local wine industry's needs and collaborated with the local industry to fund and open the Center for Enology and Viticulture in 2003; and
     WHEREAS, Washington has become the third largest wine producer in the United States, and the Walla Walla Valley American Viticulture Area is one of the most awarded of the United States; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla has become a world famous tourist destination for fine wine and fine food; and
     WHEREAS, College Cellars, a vineyard and winery operated by Walla Walla Community College for workforce training, has won several gold medals at the Seattle Wine Awards and Northwest Wine Summit, the highest recognition that a winery can earn in the state for its 2011 Ice Wine, 2011 Chardonnay, 2009 Syrah, and 2008 Malbec;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize Walla Walla Community College's contributions to Washington State in the areas of academic excellence, workforce training, economic development, and public service, and recognize Walla Walla Community College as a model for how a community college can innovatively tailor its academic programs to meet the needs of the local mid-market business community to organically grow a sustainable ecosystem; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Office of the President at Walla Walla Community College.