MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Kirby, Barnett, Browning, Carmichael, Caughman, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Moran
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, May 6, 2016, is Pisgah High School's Academic "College Signing Day." This is the state's first and only Academic College Signing Day, and is focused on rewarding students who have earned academic scholarships for college; and
WHEREAS, graduating seniors who qualify will be given laundry baskets and the goal is to fill as many as 40 baskets with college supplies to help seniors continue their academic success beyond high school. Lillian Sims and the school administration wanted to do everything they could to help graduating seniors achieve their dreams!; 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. As a Title 1 school, many among the student population face the challenges of poverty, but this school is a high achiever. The Mississippi Department of Education has designated Pisgah High School as a "high-performing" school for the last four years, and has been recognized by the U.S. News and World Report for the past seven years, and is a U.S. News and World Report National Bronze Level School. Last year, Pisgah High School seniors earned a record $3 Million in scholarship offers. Pisgah High has seen tremendous growth in recent years, and the 2016 Senior Class, with nearly 60 students, will be the largest ever. The capstone of their time with Pisgah is "College Signing Day"; and
WHEREAS, Lillian Sims is the Senior English Teacher at Pisgah High School and in 2015 organized the state's first academic College Signing Day. She was inspired to create college signing day back in 2014, while watching a Pisgah High senior sign a scholarship offer to play collegiate sports. Representatives from the college had arrived at school, where they set up a fancy table, brought in the student and his family, and let him officially sign with their team in front of their cameras. With this inspiration, they contacted all the recruiters at the colleges where Pisgah's seniors planned to attend, and organized Mississippi's first academic College Signing Day. Recruiters sent T-shirts, set up tables with each college's teacher alumni as their representatives, and invited parents and underclassmen to watch the Class of 2015 "sign" with their colleges of choice. The Clarion-Ledger covered the event with a photo gallery, and the students could not have been more proud of their school. The event sent the message to both graduates and younger students that academics really do matter; and
WHEREAS, Pisgah is growing! The school has more top-tier students than ever before and is seeking support in the statewide community to make this event as impactful as possible for their amazing senior scholars!; and it is with great pride that we commend a wonderful example for public schools in our state, which has brought attention to a student record of achievement in a most appropriate celebration:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize Pisgah High School Senior English Teacher Lillian Sims and the school administration for establishing the state's first Academic College Signing Day, and extend our 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 this resolution be presented to Pisgah High School English Teacher Lillian Sims and Principal Craig Yates, forwarded to the Rankin County Board of Education and the State Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.