House Concurrent Resolution 47

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING KENNETH TOWNSEND UPON THE DISTINCT HONOR OF BEING SELECTED AS ONE OF 32 AMERICAN RHODES SCHOLARS.

WHEREAS, Kenneth Townsend, a senior political science major at Millsaps College and the son of Lane and Janice Townsend of Kosciusko, Mississippi, received the distinct honor of being selected as one of America's 32 Rhodes Scholars; and

WHEREAS, a Truman Scholar and Ford Foundation Fellow, Kenneth is active in many facets of the campus, by serving as student body president at Millsaps, a leader in many campus organizations, council-wide cochair of the Campus Ministry Team, tutor for Sudanese refugees and participant in four intramural sports; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth and his fellow American scholars will enter the University of Oxford in England in October, almost 100 years after the first class of American Rhodes Scholars arrived at the institution in 1904; and

WHEREAS, the Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest international study award available to American students, which provides for two or three years of study at Oxford, and it was created in 1902 by Cecil Rhodes, British philanthropist and colonial pioneer; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth is making his mark in history by being the first person from the city of Kosciusko to earn the honor, and the second individual in Attala County since Frank Kirby Mitchell received the honor in 1921; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth, who contributes much of his success to the support and examples set by his parents, brother and other friends and family, plans to return to Mississippi after the completion of his studies and "work on Mississippi's problems"; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend excellence in the youth of our state, who are its future, especially as evidenced by the intelligence and superior academics of Kenneth Townsend:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Kenneth Townsend upon his selection as an American Rhodes Scholar and extend our heartiest wishes for success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Kenneth Townsend and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.