House Concurrent Resolution 88

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PISGAH HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ENGLISH TEACHER LILLIAN SIMS AND THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION FOR ESTABLISHING THE STATE'S FIRST ACADEMIC COLLEGE SIGNING DAY.

WHEREAS, on May 6, 2015, Pisgah High School hosted Mississippi's First Academic "College Signing Day" which rewards graduating high school students who have earned academic scholarships for college and carries the newly established tradition forward with its Second Academic "College Signing Day" on May 6, 2016; and

WHEREAS, qualified graduating seniors are given laundry baskets, the goal is to fill as many as 40 baskets with college supplies to help seniors continue their academic success beyond high school, an initiative Mrs. Lillian Sims and the school administration have made it their highest priority to ensure that these students continue to achieve their dreams; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Lillian Sims is the Senior English teacher at Pisgah High School and in 2015 organized Mississippi's First Academic College Signing Day, inspired by watching a Pisgah High School athlete sign a scholarship offer in front of his classmates and the coaching staff of his new team; and

WHEREAS, enjoying the pageantry of the moment, Mrs. Sims

contacted the recruiters at the colleges where Pisgah's seniors planned to attend, these recruiters sent T-shirts and set up tables with each college's teacher alumni as their representatives, she also invited parents and underclassmen to watch the Class of 2015 "sign" with their colleges of choice; and

WHEREAS, Pisgah High School is a Class 2A public school in Brandon, Mississippi, serving the northernmost corner of Rankin County, with 400 students in Grades 7-12; and

WHEREAS, as a Title 1 school, many students face the challenges of poverty, but the students are high achievers, as indicated by the Mississippi Department of Education's designation of Pisgah High School as a "high-performing" school for the last four years, as well as earning recognition by U.S. News and World Report for the past seven years and is the publication's National Bronze Level School status, and last year, Pisgah High School seniors earned a record $3 Million in scholarship offers; and

WHEREAS, Pisgah High School has seen tremendous growth in recent years, the 2016 Senior Class, consisting of nearly 60 students, will be the largest ever, the capstone of their time at Pisgah High School being their "College Signing Day"; and

WHEREAS, The Clarion-Ledger covered the event with a photo gallery and the students felt prodigious pride for their school, the event furthered the message to both graduates and underclassmen that academic achievement is an exceptional achievement to be proud of; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize outstanding contributions to education like Mrs. Sims, who has helped ensure her students continue to seek the immeasurable rewards of higher education, in addition to bettering the lives of her students, she has served as an excellent example for all those serving as educators, and it is with great pride that we commend a wonderful example for public schools in the State of Mississippi, which has brought attention to a student record of achievement in a most appropriate celebration:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize Pisgah High School Senior English Teacher Mrs. Lillian Sims and the school administration for establishing Mississippi's First Academic College Signing Day, and extend best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Pisgah High School's Second Academic "College Signing Day" on May 6, 2016.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Pisgah High School Senior English Teacher Mrs. Lillian Sims, Principal Mr. Craig Yates, the Rankin County Board of Education, the State Board of Education and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.