House Concurrent Resolution 74

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE FRANCES A. KARNES CENTER FOR GIFTED STUDIES ON THE COMMEMORATION OF ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY.

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi is dedicated to providing quality educational programs to meet the needs of all its citizens, including children who are intellectually, academically, artistically and creatively gifted; and

WHEREAS, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, has been dedicated since 1979 to furthering and advocating for the education of all children, including intellectually, academically, artistically and creatively gifted; and

WHEREAS, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies offers a program for the development of leadership skills in all children through the Leadership Studies Program for students in Grades 6 through 11 and the leadership competitions for students in Grades 7 through 11; and

WHEREAS, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies offers instructional programs for intellectually gifted children in Grades kindergarten through 12 through the Saturday Gifted Studies Programs and the Summer Gifted Studies Program; and

WHEREAS, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies offers instructional programs for academically talented students in Grades 7 through 10 through the Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth and the cooperative efforts of the Duke University Talented Youth and the cooperative efforts of the Duke University Talent Identification Program; and

WHEREAS, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies offers services for parents and other adults concerned with the education of the gifted through the Parenting Gifted Children Conference; and

WHEREAS, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies offers teacher education programs through the Fall and Spring Day of Sharing for Teachers of the Gifted and master's, specialist and doctoral level degree programs through the University of Southern Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies conducts research in critical areas of gifted education, including, but not limited to, screening and identification of gifted children, curriculum and program development and evaluation; and

WHEREAS, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies regularly publishes a newsletter, Friends for Gifted Education Newsletter, to inform, educate and advocate for the needs of intellectually, academically, artistically and creatively gifted children; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize such institutions as the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies, which has been monumental in the furtherance of educational achievement and excellence, and has been recognized at the state and national levels for outstanding contribution in teacher education, research and service:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies on its 25th anniversary, extend our heartiest wishes for success in all its future endeavors and proclaim the year of 2004 as The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies 25th Commemorative Anniversary in Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Director of the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies on behalf of the University of Southern Mississippi and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.