WHEREAS, Helen Page Warriner-Burke, Ph.D., an educator, community leader, and longtime volunteer with the Southside Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has touched countless lives through her kindness and dedication to service; and

WHEREAS, Helen Warriner-Burke was born in Amelia County in 1935 and grew up on a tobacco farm where she worked the land with her family, learning the value of hard work at a young age by milking cows by hand, baling hay, hanging tobacco, and threshing wheat; and

WHEREAS, Helen Warriner-Burke graduated from Amelia County High School in 1952, then attended Longwood College, now Longwood University, from which she earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish in 1956; and

WHEREAS, Helen Warriner-Burke subsequently received a master's degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a doctorate from the Ohio State University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Warriner-Burke pursued a career as a Spanish teacher in Newport News Public Schools and was highly engaged in her profession; she was a charter member of the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages and served as president of the organization in 1976; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Warriner-Burke served with the Virginia Department of Education as the director of foreign language education for nearly 30 years; she guided the creation of the Virginia Governor's Latin Academy and the development of advanced language study opportunities that matured into the Virginia Governor's World Language Academies; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Dr. Warriner-Burke served two terms on the Amelia County School Board and provided her leadership and expertise to her alma mater as a member of the Longwood University Board of Visitors from 2002 to 2010; she also served as rector and was a valued member of other university boards and task forces; and

WHEREAS, outside of her distinguished contributions to the field of education, Dr. Warriner-Burke has served on the board of the Southside Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Southside SPCA) since 2004; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Warriner-Burke's leadership and faithful service to the Southside SPCA has helped the organization grow and better serve the needs of the residents of the Commonwealth and animals in need; and

WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Dr. Warriner-Burke has received the Cultural Laureate Award from the Virginia Cultural Laureate Foundation in 1977, the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Longwood University in 1973 and 2004, and the Page Cook Axson McGaughy Lifetime Loyalty Award from Longwood University in 2017; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Helen Page Warriner-Burke, Ph.D., hereby be commended on the occasion of her 20th year of service with the Southside Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Helen Page Warriner-Burke, Ph.D., as an expression of the House of Delegates' congratulations and admiration for her continued volunteerism, civic spirit, and contributions to communities throughout the Commonwealth.