MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2019 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Clarke, McMahan, Wilemon, Dearing, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Jordan
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE 2019 MISSISSIPPI PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD WINNERS: JOSEPH VOYNIK (STATE HONOREE), KEEGAN FIGUEROA (STATE HONOREE), ANNABELLE BUNCH (DISTINGUISHED FINALIST), SHELBY COOPER (DISTINGUISHED FINALIST), HAYES LESYER (DISTINGUISHED FINALIST), AND MARLIE MCCLUNG (DISTINGUISHED FINALIST).
WHEREAS, the prestigious 2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Award, now in its 24th 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, these are Mississippi's Top Youth Volunteers of 2019:
· High School State Honoree: Joseph Voynik, nominated by Jackson Preparatory School.
Joseph, a senior at Jackson Preparatory School, worked for four years and raised more than $600,000.00 to construct a fully accessible baseball field so that children with disabilities could experience the joy of playing America's national pastime. Joseph has always been aware of the obstacles faced by people with disabilities; when his mother was in high school, a car accident paralyzed her from the waist down. "I noticed that people with disabilities often do not have the same opportunities as the able-bodied," Joseph said. While watching a major league baseball game on TV in 2014, he saw a commercial about the Miracle League. "It was the first time I had ever seen children with disabilities experience the joy and excitement of playing baseball on an accessible field," he said. Joseph immediately wanted to get involved, but soon discovered that there was not a single fully accessible field in Mississippi for players with disabilities. So he decided he would build one. Joseph first shared his idea with classmates at school, who helped organize a one-mile run that raised $10,000.00 for his cause. With his parents' help, he established the Miracle League of Central Mississippi, a 50l(c)(3) nonprofit, and then persuaded a neighboring town to provide a site. Over the next few years, Joseph solicited donations from businesses and foundations and promoted his project via a website and social media. After raising hundreds of thousands of dollars, he helped plan and oversee the construction of the field itself, with a rubberized surface and wheelchair-accessible dugouts. Mississippi's first Miracle League baseball field opened on April 20, 2018, and hosted six teams in its first season. "I believe this field and league of players has opened the hearts and eyes of many in the community to see all that these disabled players can accomplish when given the opportunity," said Joseph.
· Middle Level State Honoree: Keegan Figueroa, nominated by Wllliams-Sullivan Elementary School in Durant.
Keegan, an eighth-grader at Mooreville Middle School, helped collect almost 30,000 pounds of basic necessities and deliver them to Puerto Rico a month after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Keegan's father was born in Puerto Rico and lived there until he was 16. "Most of his family still lives there," said Keegan, who has visited the island several times. "When the hurricane hit, I was terrified," he said. "I instantly knew that I wanted to help." As in many disaster situations, it took several days for Keegan's family to make contact with relatives there. Thankfully, they were all safe, he said, but many had lost almost everything, and they had no access to water or electricity. To help the family's efforts in delivering supplies to Puerto Rico, Keegan decided to get students at his school involved in the cause. He posted flyers and posters that explained what items were needed and placed donation boxes at every entrance to the school. Keegan and his family also solicited help from churches, clubs and organizations, as well as local businesses. After donations such as medicine, hygiene products, diapers, baby formula, batteries and generators were stored in the Figueroa garage, Keegan organized a group of 20 friends to come and pack the items into boxes. Once Keegan and his father arrived in Puerto Rico, they began distributing the donations to people in need. While on the island, Keegan also worked with the National Guard to deliver care packages, purified water and start rebuilding houses. "The smiles and gratitude on the people's faces were worth all the trouble and hardship it took," said Keegan.
As State Honorees, Joseph and Keegan each will receive $1,000.00, an engraved Silver Medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they 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, ten students will be named America's Top Youth Volunteers of 2019; and
WHEREAS, the program judges also recognized four other Mississippi students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved Bronze Medallion. These are Mississippi's Distinguished Finalists for 2019:
· Annabelle Bunch, 17, of Saltillo, Mississippi, a member of the Northern Mississippi American Red Cross and a Senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School, launched "Just Too Sweet" as an initiative to promote awareness, advocacy and action to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. As a teenager living with the condition, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Youth Advocacy Leader has raised more than $14,000.00 and bolstered awareness via social media and speaking engagements.
· Shelby Cooper, 17, of Canton, Mississippi, a Senior at Germantown High School, serves as Volunteer Coordinator of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services' Backpack Program, a role she took after discovering that many foster children must carry their belongings in trash bags when they move between residences. She organized a community effort that involved product donations so foster kids can receive a backpack containing items such as shampoo, stuffed animals, toothbrushes and fun activities.
· Hayes Lesyer, 17, of Pass Christian, Mississippi, a Senior at Pass Christian High School, launched an initiative called "Pass Packs" after learning that many of his classmates received free and discounted lunches during school, but still experienced hunger on weekends. Pass Packs requires ongoing fundraising to fill and distribute bags of food that his peers take home each Friday; he is securing leadership to ensure the program is able to continue after he graduates.
· Marlie McClung, 16, of Tishomingo, Mississippi, a Junior at Belmont High School, serves as a Youth Leader in working to prevent students from using tobacco and encourage existing users to kick the habit. As a member of the Youth Advocacy Team of Tishomingo County, she serves as an Ambassador sharing information with students in her hometown schools. Marlie also helped inspire 200 students to commit to staying away from tobacco and related products as part of "Kick Butts Day"; and
WHEREAS, "These young volunteers learned and demonstrated that they can make meaningful contributions to individuals and communities through their service," said Prudential CEO Charles Lowrey. "It is an honor to recognize their great work, and we hope that shining a spotlight on their service inspires others to consider how they might make a difference." "Each of these honorees is proof that students have the energy, creativity and unique perspectives to create positive change," said JoAnn Bartoletti, Executive Director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "We commend each of the 2019 Honorees for their outstanding volunteer service, and for the invaluable example they have set for their peers"; 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 are eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. 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 these young Mississippi citizens, 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 the 2019 Mississippi Prudential Spirit of Community Award Winners: Joseph Voynik (State Honoree), Keegan Figueroa (State Honoree), Annabelle Bunch (Distinguished Finalist), Shelby Cooper (Distinguished Finalist), Hayes Lesyer (Distinguished Finalist), and Marlie McClung (Distinguished Finalist), and extend to these honorees and their families the best wishes for success in their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mississippi's Top Youth Volunteers and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.