House Concurrent Resolution 52

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING GENTRY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND JOBS FOR MISSISSIPPI GRADUATES' PARTICIPANTS, A'MYAH ROBINSON, SYLVESTER WASHINGTON, JR., COLEE M. ANTHONY AND T'ROSSI PERNELL, AND JACKSON SCHOOL DISTRICT ACADEMIC & PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX (APAC) PROGRAM'S, ZACCHAEUS WALLACE, UPON THEIR SUCCESS AT THE JOBS FOR AMERICA'S GRADUATES NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.

WHEREAS, Jobs for Mississippi Graduates' student achievers traveled to Washington, D.C., in December 2019, to participate in the Jobs for America's Graduates 2019 National Student Leadership Academy competition for national titles in the four academic areas of public speaking, employability skills, math skills and project-based learning; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi reigned supreme out of 32 states represented, accumulating four student title place finishes, more than any other state in competition, after each having successfully competed in Spring statewide competitions, yielding way to the national competition; and

WHEREAS, four Gentry High School students, A'Myah Robinson, Sylvester Washington, Jr., Colee M. Anthony and T'Rossi Pernell, were among the group of 35 Mississippi scholars to attend the conference, and in so doing were exceptional academic ambassadors representing the outstanding jobs being done throughout the state's educational system to prepare our students for college and career readiness; and

WHEREAS, of the four Gentry High School students, juniors A'Myah Robinson and Sylvester Washington, Jr., both took home the 1st Place awards for Project Based Learning, while T'Rossi Pernell accepted the Second Place award for Public Speaking, reaffirming the decision Dr. Adrian Brown, Gentry High School's Job Specialist, to invest 20-plus years in education, planning, community and economic development to groom young leaders in the college prep and career tech avenues; and

WHEREAS, Zacchaeus Wallace, a senior at Jackson Public School District Academic & Performing Arts Complex (APAC) Program student, captured Mississippi's fourth award, placing 2nd in math; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi students' academic success was truly demonstrated on the national stage, further assisting the state on its ascension to the pinnacle of educational excellence with four out of five wins in the nation, which further illustrates the significant impact Jobs for Mississippi Graduates has on students; and

WHEREAS, the students not only attended the competitions, but also participated in leadership training sessions and several tours, which included the National Mall, the Nation's Capitol, Smithsonian Museums, Pentagon Mall and Arlington National Cemetery, an opportunity that afforded students with the academic and cultural experiences of a lifetime; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the academic accomplishment of its most valuable resource, its students, who have demonstrated immense aptitude and academic achievement on the state and national levels of competition:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Gentry High School students and Jobs for Mississippi Graduates' participants, A'Myah Robinson, Sylvester Washington, Jr., Colee M. Anthony and T'Rossi Pernell, and Jackson School District Academic & Performing Arts Complex (APAC) Program's Zacchaeus Wallace, upon their success at the Jobs For America's Graduate National Student Leadership Academy, and extend best wishes for continued success in all their future academic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to A'Myah Robinson, Sylvester Washington, Jr., Colee M. Anthony, T'Rossi Pernell, Zacchaeus Wallace, the executive director of Jobs for Mississippi Graduates and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.