Bill Text: MS SC565 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commend Emilee Parker for winning the 2013 Mississippi Prudential Spirit of Community Award as Top Youth Volunteer.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)
Status: (Passed) 2013-03-13 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC565 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2013-SC565-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Montgomery, Butler (38th), Jackson (11th), Parker, Burton, Jackson (32nd)
Senate Concurrent Resolution 565
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING STRINGER ATTENDANCE CENTER FRESHMAN EMILEE PARKER OF STRINGER, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HER RECEIPT OF THE 2013 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD AS A TOP YOUTH VOLUNTEER.
WHEREAS, Emilee Parker, 14, of Stringer, Mississippi, was named Mississippi's Top Youth Volunteer of 2013 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Emilee was nominated by Stringer Attendance Center in Stringer; and
WHEREAS, this prestigious award, now in its 18th year, presented by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, honors young volunteers across America who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving their communities; and
WHEREAS, Emilee, a freshman at Stringer Attendance Center, has spent hundreds of volunteer hours working to aid children with cancer through a foundation established in memory of her late cousin, and through a kids' cancer club that she helps to lead. After Emilee's cousin, Seth, died at age 12 of leukemia, "My entire family was reeling," she said. "How could it be that Seth, so young and full of life, would be gone from us so soon due to ugly, unforgiving cancer?" As the family grieved, "There was a spark, an idea, a feeling that we could do the same thing for other children with cancer as we had done for Seth," said Emilee. As a result, her mother and aunt formed the Seth Harris Childhood Cancer Foundation, and Emilee, as Junior Vice President, began working with other family members on blood and bone marrow drives, and on fund-raising activities that have so far collected more than $20,000.00 for children being treated at Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson; and
WHEREAS, last summer, Emilee cofounded the Seth Harris Childhood Cancer Club to get kids involved in volunteering on behalf of pediatric cancer patients. Club members and other young people participate in projects such as assembling emergency overnight kits for families faced with unexpected hospital stays, collecting boxes of Kleenex and bags of candy for sick children, and providing snacks for families whose children must be hospitalized for extended periods. At the same time, Emilee and her club are continually striving to raise awareness of childhood cancer. "I know that I am working for the benefit of kids just like Seth," she said. "I imagine him watching over me and know he would be proud of the service that I, and many of his friends, family and complete strangers are doing in his name"; and
WHEREAS, as a State Honoree, Emilee will receive $1,000.00, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where she will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America's Top Youth Volunteers of 2013; and
WHEREAS, "Prudential is proud to honor these students for making meaningful contributions to their communities," said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. "We hope that shining a spotlight on their initiative, creativity and compassion inspires others to consider how they, too, can make a difference"; and
WHEREAS, all public and private middle-level and high schools in the country, as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, Camp Fire USA councils and volunteer centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Local honorees were then reviewed by state-level judges, who selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth; and
WHEREAS, the success of the State of Mississippi, the strength of our communities and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon the dedication of young people like Emilee, who use their considerable talents and resources to serve others:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Stringer Attendance Center Freshman Emilee Parker of Stringer, Mississippi, upon her receipt of the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Award as a Top Youth Volunteer, and recognize her outstanding record of volunteer service, peer leadership and community spirit, and extend to Emilee and her family the best wishes for success in her future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Emilee and her family and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
