SENATE RESOLUTION

8642

BySenator Holy

WHEREAS, Washington state is enriched and vitalized by the meaningful contributions of the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Eastern Washington University; and

WHEREAS, The Eastern Washington University Athletics Department is an integral component of the university by emphasizing that student-athletes are, primarily, students; and

WHEREAS, The Athletics Department sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, with all offering unique opportunities for the personal growth of the university's most athletically talented students; and

WHEREAS, Eastern Washington University is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 13 regional schools from eight different states of comparable academic caliber and enrollment, affiliated with the NCAA's Division I in football; and

WHEREAS, The Eastern Washington University football team exhibited extraordinary athletic and academic achievement during its 2018 season in being awarded the 16th annual Big Sky Conference Presidents' Cup for the third time in four years for athletic and academic excellence, maintaining a collective 3.15 accumulative GPA; and

WHEREAS, The team's notable record of 12-3 for the 2018 season earned the Eagles the Big Sky Conference co-championship, and Eastern Head Coach Aaron Best was named Big Sky Conference Co-Coach of the Year, as well as the Hero Sports FCS Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, The Eastern Washington University football team proudly represented the state of Washington at the national level by reaching the NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship game in Frisco, Texas, on January 5, 2019, and rallied supporters from every region of our state in solidarity with Eastern Washington University, which does so much to enrich the communities, culture, and economy of Washington state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the Eastern Washington University football team and Head Coach Aaron Best upon their triumphs as a team of student athletes, and commend their success, leadership, and hard work during their 2018 season; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Eastern Washington University.