A senate RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Phil Suggs, a music teacher in York School District 1, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER thirty-nine YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate have learned that Phil Suggs will begin a well-deserved retirement on June 3, 2023, after almost four decades as a highly regarded music teacher, the last twenty-nine of which have been in York School District 1; and

Whereas, originally from Mooresville, North Carolina, he graduated from Mooresville Senior High School in 1980 and earned a bachelor's degree from Pfeiffer College in 1984.  He completed additional coursework at Winthrop University; and

Whereas, Mr. Suggs began his professional career in 1984, teaching in Williamsburg County School District at St. Mark Elementary where he taught music for five years before teaching in Hemingway Primary, Middle, and High schools from 1989 to 1994; and

Whereas, since 1994, he has taught in York School District 1 at York Junior High and York Comprehensive High schools.  He and his wife, Judy, moved to York County School District 1 so that they could advance their careers and rear their children in an active community.  He has taught such classes as chorus, handbell ensemble, and general music, and he coached varsity girls and boys tennis for six years; and

Whereas, teaching in York County has allowed Mr. Suggs to use music to help students see what they are capable of doing, things they never thought they could do, and to enjoy the beauty of watching students grow and achieve; and

Whereas, from 2002 to 2018, he served as the choir director for First Presbyterian Church in York, and he has been the choir director at Aldersgate United Methodist Church since 2020; and

Whereas, Mr. Suggs taught the summer ST-ARTS program at Winthrop University from 1999 to 2015, where he also served as an adjunct professor for two years, and has mentored numerous Winthrop interns.  He has adjudicated the Carowinds Choral Festival, middle school CPA sight reading, All-State Chorus, and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Honor Choir auditions; and

Whereas, dedicated to his profession, he is a member of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) and ACDA.  He is also a member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA); and

Whereas, in Mr. Suggs' role as a choral director, he led the combined performance by the York High Comprehensive School Concert Choir and the First Presbyterian Church of York Chancel Choir in Rutter's "Requiem" in 2002 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of 9-11; and

Whereas, in 2014, he led the school's concert, chamber, and women's choirs as they claimed five of the six awards in state AAAA Choral Festival, and they won three consecutive first-place awards at the Lander Choral Festival.  In 2019, he led the choir to first place in the Level 4 Palmetto State Choral Championships; and

Whereas, grateful for his many years of dedicated service to educating countless students in Williamsburg County School District and York School District 1, the South Carolina Senate takes great pleasure in extending best wishes to Phil Suggs as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the leisurely pace of the days ahead, and the members wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Phil Suggs, a music teacher in York School District 1, upon the occasion of his retirement after thirty-nine years of outstanding service, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Phil Suggs.

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