MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2009 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Yancey, Blount, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Dearing, Fillingane, Jackson (32nd), Lee (35th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JACKSON PREP STUDENT KATHERINE LINDELL FOR WINNING THE FIRST PLACE STUDENT-TEACHER ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION (STAR) PROGRAM AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP.
WHEREAS, on Thursday, April 16, 2009, the Mississippi Economic Council and the M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation announced three high school seniors as the Top 3 students in Mississippi as recipients of the Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program. First place winner was Katherine Lindell of Jackson Prep (daughter of Legislative Budget Office Director Lee Lindell and Laura Lindell); and
WHEREAS, for 43 years, the Mississippi Economic Council's Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program has saluted the academic achievements of the state's outstanding high school students and teachers; and
WHEREAS, Katherine Lindell knew earning a perfect ACT score would make her a strong contender for the top Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition program prize: a $24,000 scholarship. Katherine is a senior at Jackson Preparatory School, and beat out 249 other Mississippi students to receive the scholarship from the Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation; and
WHEREAS, all 250 STAR students scored at least a 25 on the ACT and have averages higher than 93. Katherine has a 98.78 average. Each student also picks a STAR teacher. The students and teachers were honored at the 43rd annual STAR program ceremony, sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council's M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation. Five of the top students scored a 36 on the ACT, a perfect score; and
WHEREAS, David Zhang, a senior at Jackson Prep, was the first runner-up, and Bailey Hansen, a senior at Jackson Academy, is the second runner-up. The top three students' STAR teachers each win $500 from the Cook Foundation; and
WHEREAS, at Jackson Prep, Katherine Lindell was Student Council President and Vice President, a National Merit finalist and a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the dance team, among other things. Katherine was one of seven Mississippians who were semifinalists in the 2009 Presidential Scholars Program, chosen on the basis of their academic and artistic success, leadership and involvement in school and the community. They were identified from nearly 2.8 million graduating high school seniors. Katherine is weighing offers from the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and Vanderbilt University, where she has been offered a number of scholarships; and
WHEREAS, "Katherine is a teacher's dream," said Lou Ann McKibben, Lindell's STAR teacher who teaches advanced placement/college preparatory U.S. Government and economics. "To be her STAR teacher was just a tremendous honor"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this special accomplishment by a young Mississippi scholar who has brought honor to her family, her school, her community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Jackson Prep Student Katherine Lindell for winning the 2009 First Place Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program award and scholarship, and extend to her family, teachers and sponsors our best wishes on this auspicious occasion for her future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Katherine Lindell and her teacher, Lou Ann McKibben, forwarded to the Headmaster of Jackson Prep and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.