House Resolution 22

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE BEACON OF HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED, AND ITS FOUNDER, M. DEBORRAH HYDE, M.D. FOR HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES THROUGH EDUCATION.

WHEREAS, the Beacon of Hope Scholarship Foundation, Incorporated, was created from the dream of its founder, M. Deborrah Hyde, M.D., to provide underprivileged, African-American graduating high school students of Mississippi with financial assistance for higher education so that such youth become highly educated and thus attain a level of self-reliance allowing them to be constructive, productive, contributing citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Beacon of Hope, in its 13 years of existence, has provided financial support to assist deserving students in their quest to achieve higher education and has presented more than $100,000 in scholarships and cash awards to academically qualified high school seniors and ninth-grade students excelling in mathematics and science; and

WHEREAS, on Sunday, June 20, 2004, the Beacon of Hope Scholarship Foundation, Incorporated, will celebrate 13 years of excellence and commitment to education with its First Annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner, adorned with a most befitting theme: "Hat's Off to Education"; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Deborrah Hyde, the founder of Beacon of Hope and an American Diplomat board certified neurological surgeon, who was once a poor underprivileged child of rural Mississippi herself, organized the foundation as a tribute to her mentor and role model, her grandmother, Annie Bell Huff, after whom the scholarship is named; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Tom Bradley of the City of Los Angeles, California, and Mayor Henry Bucklew of the City of Laurel, Mississippi, have commended and congratulated Dr. Hyde for her efforts of providing financial assistance to qualified underprivileged African-American students seeking a college education; and

WHEREAS, the Beacon of Hope pledges $4,000.00 in scholarship awards per student, issuing $1,000.00 per year at the beginning of the fall semester, and a $500.00 cash award to the ninth-grade student with the highest scientific scholastic average in the Jones County School District; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend anyone who seeks to improve the educational and social conditions of the poor children of this state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize, commend and congratulate the Beacon of Hope Scholarship Foundation, Incorporated, and its founder, M. Deborrah Hyde, M.D., for their diligent efforts in providing underprivileged African-American youth with financial assistance for a college education, and also extend our best wishes for a successful First Annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. M. Deborrah Hyde, the Beacon of Hope Scholarship Foundation, Incorporated, and members of the Capitol Press Corps.