TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, GREETINGS

WHEREAS Kansas' open and endless skies nurture the largest remaining stretch of tallgrass in the country, almost one-fifth of America's wheat and an aviation industry second to none; and

WHEREAS Kansans regularly reach stellar heights, which have included the 34th president, three Pulitzer and two Nobel prizewinners, three astronauts; and

WHEREAS our university system is poised as one of the nation's top three in the number of scientists and engineers enrolled per one million population; and

WHEREAS Kansas is soaring towards a high-tech economy and in a recent 5-year period was fourth in the nation in the number of high-tech jobs gained; and

WHEREAS astute and forward-thinking Kansas entrepreneurs aspire towards a global economy; and

WHEREAS we offer visitors unparalleled sunsets; a history that began with Coronado, made us the crossroads of a growing nation and compels us ever upwards; and

WHEREAS our state motto "Ad Astra Per Aspera" or "To the Stars Through Difficulties" embodies the inherent Kansas spirit as well as the unique promise of the 21st century;

NOW THEREFORE, I, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, do hereby
proclaim April 28, 2007 as

AD ASTRA KANSAS DAY

and encourage Kansans, though a naturally modest people, to don the cloak of this glorious motto by which we have lived and thrived for almost 150 years and promote Kansas with pride as "The Ad Astra State."

(l-r): Bill Hook, Jane Fortin, Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Paul
Fortin, Alicia Madison at the signing of the 2007 Ad Astra Kansas Day proclamation.