House Resolution 68

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING IUKA MIDDLE SCHOOL EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT NOAH ROBERTSON UPON HIS RECEIPT OF THE 2010 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD AS THE TOP MIDDLE LEVEL YOUTH VOLUNTEER IN MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Noah Robertson, an eighth grade student at Iuka Middle School in Iuka, Mississippi, has been named Mississippi's top middle level youth volunteer for 2010 and received a Prudential Spirit of Community Award; and

WHEREAS, this prestigious award, presented in its 15th year by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, honors young volunteers across America who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving their communities; and

WHEREAS, Noah designed and implemented an anti-bullying campaign that culminated in a rally attended by the entire student body at his school; and

WHEREAS, he courageously explained the source of his compassion for the anti-bullying campaign as follows: "My best friend is autistic and I continually see people treating him in a bullying manner."; and

WHEREAS, having seen many other students at his school suffer at the hands of bullies and having been bullied himself, Noah professes, "I felt I needed to do something to help everyone in my school understand that bullying causes long-term damage, and we need to stand up for one another."; and

WHEREAS, with support from school officials, he began researching all aspects of bullying; developed a brochure explaining different types of bullying, the signs of bullying, and ways to prevent it; and persuaded a local organization to provide funding to have the brochure printed; and

WHEREAS, Noah's efforts did not stop with the brochure, as he also created four performance skits and an audio/video slideshow about bullying, which he presented at a school-wide rally; and

WHEREAS, after the rally, each student was asked to sign a "no-bullying" contract that Noah designed, and three drop-boxes that Noah built were placed around the school so students can anonymously report incidents of bullying; and

WHEREAS, his anti-bullying campaign has provided such positive feedback that his school plans to continue the movement in future years, and other schools in the district have expressed interest in adopting similar campaigns; and

WHEREAS, in addition to selecting Noah Robertson as Mississippi's top middle level youth volunteer for 2010, the program's judges recognized four other Mississippi students as distinguished finalists for their impressive community service activities; and

WHEREAS, all public and private middle level and high schools in the country, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, Camp Fire USA councils and volunteer centers were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award in November 2009, and local honorees were then reviewed by state level judges, who selected state honorees and distinguished finalists based on criteria, including personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth; and

WHEREAS, five middle level and five high school students that were selected as state honorees will be named America's top ten youth volunteers of the year by a prestigious national selection committee, and these national honorees will receive an additional $5,000.00, a gold medallion and a crystal trophy and will have a total of $250,000.00 in children's products donated in their names to needy children in their communities by Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc., the national charity of the children's apparel and products industry; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend and congratulate a young person like Noah Robertson, who uses his considerable talents and resources to serve others, and for whom our communities, the State of Mississippi and American society greatly depend upon for their strength, success and overall vitality:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Iuka Middle School student, Noah Robertson, of Iuka, Mississippi, upon his receipt of the 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Award, recognize his outstanding record of volunteer service, peer leadership and community spirit and extend best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Noah Robertson and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.