House Resolution 44

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING GWEN KEYS HITT ON BEING SELECTED MISSISSIPPI COUNSELING ASSOCIATION'S 2003 SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Gwen Keys Hitt, professional school counselor at Collins Middle School, was recently selected as the recipient of the 2003 Mississippi Counseling Association's Counselor of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, a seasoned educator with 36 years of experience as a teacher, counselor and minister of music, Mrs. Hitt received several degrees better equipping her for a career in education and counseling, including a bachelor of arts in elementary education from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master of arts from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a masters in education from the University of Southern Mississippi and national board certification in counseling/school counseling; and

WHEREAS, from 1995 to the present, Mrs. Hitt has been an affiliate of and has held key positions in several professional organizations, including the Pine Belt Counseling Association, the Mississippi Counseling Association, the Mississippi School Counselors Association and the Mississippi Chapter of the American School Counselor Association; and

WHEREAS, held in the highest of esteem, by administrators, faculty colleagues, parents and students alike, Mrs. Hitt has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including being named the Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, a nominee for the Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence Award, Covington County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year, receiving the Pine Belt School Counselor of the Year, the Distinguished Service Award by the Mississippi State University Alumni Association, the Highest Profession Growth Award, the M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation Award of Excellence and the Shadrack Rogers Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Outstanding Arts in Education Award, in addition to many others; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Hitt continually strives to broaden the depth of her knowledge in counseling by engaging in professional continuing education in the areas of grant writing, interdisciplinary alcohol and drug studies, crisis intervention, motivational strategies, asset building, testing strategies and ethical and legal issues; and

WHEREAS, equipped with her vast wealth of knowledge, gained through many years of experience, Mrs. Hitt has written and received 52 school-related grants, wrote and edited Windows on the World, The 50 United States and Points to Ponder, a three-part series of 180 Morning Messages for use in schools throughout the State of Mississippi and the nation and wrote Covington County Crossroads, A History of Covington County, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Hitt is active in every facet of community involvement, religious, social, civic and humanitarian, and uses these involvements to further her efforts of being of assistance to those in need; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend excellence especially when evidenced by individuals such as Mrs. Hitt, who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to dedicate her life to developing and cultivating the minds, self-esteem, morale and bodies of the many young Mississippians with whom she has come in contact during her career:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize, commend and congratulate Mrs. Gwen Keys Hitt upon her selection as the 2003 School Counselor of the Year by the Mississippi Counseling Association and extend our heartiest wishes for success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Gwen Keys Hitt, the Covington County School District and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.