WHEREAS,  Dr. John Fitzsimmons has resigned as President of the Maine Community College System, a post he has held since 1990, and we take this opportunity to recognize his long and distinguished career with the Maine Community College System; and

WHEREAS,  during the past 24 years, enrollment at the system's 7 colleges has increased from 3,300 students to 18,160, with an additional 13,000 individuals enrolled in customized training and non-credit and continuing education courses; and

WHEREAS,  Dr. Fitzsimmons earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island, his master's degree from the University of Southern Maine and his doctorate from Nova Southeastern University; and

WHEREAS,  he served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, including a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970, and he chaired the veterans' group responsible for building the Maine Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Augusta; and

WHEREAS,  under Dr. Fitzsimmons' leadership, the community college system has played a significant role in enhancing educational opportunities for Maine adults and career-bound high school students, while 94% of employed system graduates are working in Maine; and

WHEREAS,  Dr. Fitzsimmons has spent the last 36 years in the field of higher education and training, as prior to his current post he served as Maine's Commissioner of Labor under Governor John R. McKernan, Jr. and received numerous national recognitions including the prestigious National Alliance of Business "State of the Year" award honoring Maine for Dr. Fitzsimmons' innovative programs in human resource development; and

WHEREAS,  during his presidency, the Maine Community College System has received national recognition from the National Alliance of Business and the University of Florida Future's Assembly and is a recipient of the David Pierce Organizational Leadership Award from North Carolina State University's National Initiative for Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness; and

WHEREAS,  Dr. Fitzsimmons has been honored with the Maine State Chamber of Commerce's Dirigo Award for his leadership efforts in economic development, and the Economic Development Council of Maine presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his leadership and vision in the areas of higher education and workforce development; and

WHEREAS,  in 2009, MaineBiz, a leading business publication, honored Dr. Fitzsimmons as the Non-Profit Business Leader of the Year and, in 2012, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Maine Business Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant and enduring contributions to Maine's economy and its sense of community, and this past year Maine Magazine named him one of 50 people shaping our State; and

WHEREAS,  as we acknowledge President Fitzsimmons' dedicated service to the field of higher education, to the State's economy and to the People of Maine; now, therefore, be it