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1		HOUSE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, Martin J. "Mike" and Patricia Blunt Koldyke have
3		made it their life-long mission to raise the quality of
4		teaching and learning in Chicago; and
5		WHEREAS, After graduating from Purdue University and
6		serving as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Counter
7		Intelligence Corps, Mike Koldyke founded the Frontenac
8		Company, a Chicago-based private equity firm, in 1971, and
9		served as its Chairman until his retirement; and
10		WHEREAS, A graduate of Vassar College, Pat Koldyke began
11		her career at Harper's Bazaar Magazine in New York before
12		moving to Chicago with her husband in 1961; and
13		WHEREAS, The Koldykes were inspired while watching the
14		Academy Awards on TV in the mid-80s to create a similar awards
15		program for teachers to recognize excellence in teaching and
16		the contributions of teachers in building a stronger,
17		better-educated society; and
18		WHEREAS, Every year since 1986, The Golden Apple Foundation
19		has chosen 10 outstanding teachers to receive this prestigious
20		award; and

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1		WHEREAS, Recipients of the Golden Apple Award become
2		lifetime members of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators,
3		which conceives, develops, and supports programs for teachers
4		to make them more effective in the classroom; and
5		WHEREAS, For 30 years, Golden Apple has recognized gifted
6		teachers and provided them with the preparation and
7		professional development they need for immediate and lasting
8		success in the classroom, with a special emphasis on
9		disadvantaged schools; and
10		WHEREAS, The Golden Apple Scholars program has prepared
11		more than 1,000 teachers who are raising student achievement in
12		some of Illinois' most challenging teaching environments; and
13		WHEREAS, The exceptional leadership and public service
14		provided by the Koldykes continues to transform teaching and
15		learning in the Chicago region and beyond, particularly for
16		underprivileged students; and
17		WHEREAS, Mike Koldyke serves as Chairman Emeritus of the
18		Golden Apple Foundation, and he and Pat continue to serve on
19		the board of the Golden Apple Foundation; and
20		WHEREAS, In 1992, Mike Koldyke was appointed by both Mayor
21		Richard M. Daley and Governor Jim Edgar as Chair of the Chicago

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1		School Finance Authority, and by President Clinton to serve on
2		the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence
3		for Hispanic Americans; and
4		WHEREAS, After reading about Native Americans being passed
5		over by college recruiters, Mike Koldyke was instrumental in
6		developing a program at the New Mexico Highlands University to
7		improve the recruitment and mentoring of Native Americans; and
8		WHEREAS, Since 2005, the Koldykes have sponsored Chicago
9		Public School children, many of whom have never been out of
10		Chicago, for a trip to Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in
11		Colorado and a cowboy experience at their ranch; and
12		WHEREAS, In 1986, the Koldykes established the Chicago
13		Council on Global Affairs' Patricia Blunt Koldyke Fellowship in
14		Social Entrepreneurship to recognize emerging leaders who are
15		transforming society through innovative solutions to pressing
16		global challenges; and
17		WHEREAS, Pat Koldyke has also served on the boards of
18		Children's Memorial Hospital, the Erikson Institute, the
19		Northwestern Memorial Foundation, the Chicago Council on
20		Global Affairs, the Brain Research Foundation, and the Persons
21		with Disabilities Fund at the Chicago Community Trust; Mike
22		Koldyke has served on the boards of After School Matters,

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1		Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico, WTTW Communications,
2		Inc., Chicago Public Education Fund, Big Shoulders Fund, The
3		Economic Club of Chicago, and others; he has been a trustee of
4		Northwestern University, Ravinia, The Brookings Institution,
5		Choate Rosemary Hall, Joffrey Ballet, and Common Cause;
6		therefore, be it
7		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8		NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9		Pat and Mike Koldyke, on the 30th Anniversary of the Golden
10		Apple Foundation, are recognized for providing the passion,
11		leadership, and vision of the Golden Apple Foundation as one
12		dedicated to transforming teaching and learning in the Chicago
13		region and throughout all of Illinois; and be it further
14		RESOLVED, That Pat and Mike Koldyke are commended for
15		developing the Golden Apple Foundation's legacy of focus on
16		preparing resilient and successful new teachers for the
17		profession of education through the Golden Apple Scholars of
18		Illinois Program; and be it further
19		RESOLVED, That Pat and Mike Koldyke are commended for their
20		inspired belief that excellent teachers are critical to a
21		student's success, especially with regard to students from
22		schools of need; and be it further

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1		RESOLVED, That Pat and Mike Koldyke are recognized for
2		their bold commitment to education in the State of Illinois,
3		through the new growth trajectory of the Golden Apple
4		Foundation, which aspires to double the annual cohort of Golden
5		Apple Scholars in Illinois by 2018; and be it further
6		RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7		presented to Pat and Mike Koldyke as an expression of our
8		esteem and respect.