On July 11, 2023, Tennessee’s senators Marsha Blackburn (R) and Bill Hagerty (R), BA’81, JD’84, introduced Senate Resolution 288 to honor Vanderbilt University’s Sesquicentennial, marking 150 years of academic excellence and contributions to the state and nation. The resolution was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate on July 26. Recognizing Vanderbilt’s rich history, the resolution commends the university for its unwavering commitment to fostering innovation, advancing knowledge and empowering generations of students.
The resolution highlights Vanderbilt’s significant role in driving economic growth, promoting research and development, and cultivating a vibrant intellectual community, observing that Vanderbilt was “forged in Tennessee spirit, [and] has grown from a regional university to one of the premier research institutions in the United States.”
The resolution also underscores Vanderbilt’s remarkable achievements across various fields and that Vanderbilt is “proud of, but not satisfied with, its accomplishments of the past 150 years and aims to grow to become the Great University of the 21st century.” By introducing this resolution, the senators aim to honor Vanderbilt’s enduring legacy as a premier educational institution and express their appreciation for its invaluable contributions to the state’s educational landscape and the advancement of knowledge for the betterment of society.
During his recent trip to Washington, D.C., Chancellor Daniel Diermeier thanked both senators for honoring the university through this resolution.
“We’re grateful to Senators Hagerty and Blackburn for leading this tremendous recognition of Vanderbilt’s Sesquicentennial,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations Christina West, who worked with the senators’ offices on the resolution.
The full text of the resolution can be found on the Senate website.