Hutchison to Speak at “Prosperity through Partnership” Luncheon
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Chamber of Commerce to co-host event
 
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison will be the keynote speaker at the “Prosperity through Partnership” luncheon at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in the University Center Lone Star Ballroom. Student exhibits representing various colleges and departments, along with information from Community Outreach, Career Services and Achieve Partnership, will be on display in the Legacy Hall adjacent to the Ballroom.

The event will mark the 80th birthday of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce and is being co-sponsored by the Chamber and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The University and the Chamber enjoy a long history of community collaboration. This year the focus is on the relationship between education and the workforce.

“Our partnership with the community has been very grateful for the Senator’s work on education, military and economic development issues and view her accomplishments with great pride,” said University President Robert R. Furgason. “Her support of Hispanic Serving Institutions and additional grant dollars for higher education has been particularly commendable.”

In 1993, Hutchison became the first woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate and in 2000 was re-elected to a second term with the largest number of votes ever garnered in the state.

She is chairperson of the Military Construction Subcommittee and a member of the Defense Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She is a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and the chair of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, which enables her to set policies regarding ports and port security as well as Amtrak and railroad shipping issues. In addition, the landmark “No Child Left Behind Act” includes several provisions written by the Senator.

“This luncheon celebrates the partnership between the business community and the University,” said Dr. Linda Avila, dean of Community Outreach at A&M-Corpus Christi. “We want to use the celebration to showcase our product — our students — and help businesses in the community know what resources the University has.”

Cost of the luncheon is $25 per person. More than 200 business and education leaders are expected to attend. For more information or to make reservations, call the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce at (361) 881-1837.