MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Farris, King

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING PAUL VARNADO OF HATTIESBURG UPON HIS RECEIPT OF THE 2000 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD.

WHEREAS, Paul Varnado, 16, of Hattiesburg, was named Mississippi's top youth volunteers for the year 2000 in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, The awards program now in its fifth year, is sponsored by The Prudential Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals; more than 20,000 high school and middle level students were considered for awards in this year's program; and

WHEREAS, Paul was nominated by Hattiesburg High School in Hattiesburg; as state honoree, he will receive $1,000.00, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense paid trip in May to Washington, D.C., where he will join the top two honorees - one middle level and one high school youth - from each of the other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for several days of national recognition events; ten of them will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2000 at that time; and

WHEREAS, Paul a sophomore at Hattiesburg High School, planned and built a playground for a daycare program serving needy children; after learning that a daycare center for disadvantaged children had to relocate to a site with no outdoor play area, Paul decided to design and build a new playground; he spent weeks researching state and federal safety regulations, applying for grants, pricing materials and soliciting donations of materials and funds; next, Paul organized a volunteer work crew made of Boy Scouts and church and family members; this team cleared the site, framed timbers, and shoveled hundreds of pound of pea gravel for a "fall zone"; Paul then picked up and assembled slides, climbing toys and a playhouse; additional donations of new high chairs, baby beds and toys helped refurbish classrooms at the new site; due to Paul's careful planning an hours of work, the daycare center's children were able to use the completed playground on their very first day at the new site; and

WHEREAS, every day, we see more and more the need for dedicated and talented volunteers like these young students; we are motivated by their community spirit, and we know that as others realize the impact these honorees have made, their community spirit will indeed spread; and

WHEREAS, the awards are part of a broad initiative created by Prudential to encourage young people to become involved in community service; in addition to Girl Scouts of the USA and National 4-H Council, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by the American Association of School Administrators; American Red Cross; Campfire Boys and Girls; Council of the Great City Schools; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; Key Club International; National Council of La Raza; National Middle School Association; National School Boards Association; National School Public Relations Association; National Urban League; Points of Light Foundation; United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc.; YMCA of the USA; and YWCA of the USA:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Paul Varnado of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, as a recipient of The Prudential Spirit of Community Award, recognizing his outstanding record of volunteer service, peer leadership and community spirit, and extends best wishes of the Legislature for his continued success and happiness.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Paul Varnado and his family and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.