House Resolution 60

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MS. ALEXANDRA WALDROP ON BEING NAMED THE 2017 COLLEEN FOR THE HIBERNIA MARCHING SOCIETY PARADE.

WHEREAS, Ms. Alexandra Waldrop, the daughter of Terry and Stacey Waldrop, is the 2017 colleen of the Hibernia Marching Society Parade, which is set for March 11, 2017, in Biloxi, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the Hibernia Marching Society was organized in Biloxi in 1978 and incorporated as The Hibernia Marching Society of Mississippi Inc., in 1989, and Ms. Waldrop truly embodies the Irish charm and femininity necessary to be selected as the colleen for the annual Irish Heritage season; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Waldrop's Irish heritage includes her paternal great-great-grandfather, William Elliott, who descended from a Scot-Irish border clan in Northern Ireland, and her maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Ivy Coker, is a descendant of the County Cork, Ireland immigrants; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from St. Patrick Catholic High School in Biloxi in 2011, where she was class president, class treasurer, a member of the soccer team and a member of the dance team, which won the MHSAA Class 3A State Championship in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, she attended the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated with an elementary and special education degree; and

WHEREAS, during her tenure as a Golden Eagle, Ms. Waldrop excelled academically, as she was nominated as an Outstanding Freshman, selected as Freshman Associate, named to the 2013 President's list and received the Leadership Scholarship Award, as well as socially, garnering the positions of Choreography Chair, Skit Chair and Panhellenic Delegate for her sorority, Kappa Delta, Beta Sigma Chapter; and

WHEREAS, once she graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with honors, Ms. Waldrop continued to further her education at William Carey University, where she is currently pursuing her master's degree in dyslexia therapy and is expected to graduate in May 2018 with a perfect 4.0 GPA; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Waldrop has utilized the training she has received in both her undergraduate and graduate study programs to benefit the students at a number of schools along the Gulf Coast, and she currently teaches the special education students at West Elementary School in Gulfport, Mississippi, inspiring them and helping them achieve their ultimate goals in education; and

WHEREAS, in her spare time, Ms. Waldrop volunteers for her community and, through numerous organizations, donates her time and energy to help improving the Gulf Coast she loves so much, including the South Mississippi Special Needs Organization and the Mississippi Coast Special Needs Soccer Association, and in 2011, she was named the City of Biloxi Youth Volunteer of the Year; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor fine Mississippians, especially those such as Ms. Alexandra Waldrop, who exceeds expectations with her unwavering hard work, generous volunteerism and high scholastic achievements:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ms. Alexandra Waldrop on being named the 2017 colleen for the Hibernia Marching Society Parade, and for her many impressive accomplishments, and express best wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.

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