City hall was seeing red on the evening of Tuesday, August 20, 2024, as the Sugar Land City Council issued a proclamation for Cullen College Day.
See the photos here!
Originally scheduled for July 18, 2024, the event was delayed due to damage to Sugar Land City Hall done by Hurricane Beryl.
The proclamation was sponsored by Mayor Joe R. Zimmerman, who is himself a proud alumnus of the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering. Mayor Zimmerman earned his B.S. in civil engineering in 1983.
"The Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston and the University of Houston – Sugar Land offers top-tier, affordable education focused on research in real world applications, leveraging the city's diverse and dynamic business community," said Zimmerman, reading aloud from the proclamation. "The College sparks innovation and equips industry leaders with comprehensive engineering expertise, fostering critical thinking, teamwork, and advancing computing skills. Emphasizing the need for future leaders to advance organizations and improve society, the College embraces the motto 'Engineered for What's Next'."
The proclamation also acknowledged students within the College's Technology Division, citing their work to "engage in active discovery and collaborate in teams on real world projects, gaining invaluable, hands-on experience that bridges theory with practical applications."
A separate, similar proclamation was issued by Fort Bend County Commissioner W. A. "Andy" Meyers, whose two daughters are graduates of the University of Houston.
"Fort Bend County plays a crucial role in the Houston region's status as a global hub for engineering, technology and energy," Meyers read. "[and] commends the Cullen College of Engineering and its programs for supporting engineering, technology, and engineering professionals, and for advancing our region's innovative ecosystem by developing the next generation of leaders and technical experts."
Dean of the Cullen College of Engineering and Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor Pradeep Sharma also addressed the chambers.
"Our aspiring engineers come from very diverse backgrounds," he said. "They range from single moms who work two jobs, to freshmen who live in one of our dorms and are pursuing double majors. Our college brings education to our communities the way that they need it. We are not considered an elite institute like Harvard University, but we offer elite education for prices that our community can afford."
He further referenced plans for UHSL to be a "major instructional site" for Cullen by next year, with the under-construction SAB2 scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.
Sharma and local Houston businessman Zafar "Zaf" Tahir, who earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from Cullen in 1984 and spoke briefly following Sharma's address, both encouraged those in attendance to participate in the next major fundraising effort for the College — The Cullen Gala, which will be held on October 10 at the Hilton Americas Downtown Houston. Tahir serves as the chairman for the event. For more information, visit the event's website.