MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Parks, Jackson (11th), Norwood, Simmons (12th)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 554

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING 2020 HIGHER EDUCATION APPRECIATION DAY - WORKING FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE (HEADWAE) HONOREES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ESTABLISHING MARCH 2, 2020, AS HEADWAE DAY.

     WHEREAS, the Higher Education Appreciation Day - Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE) program is held each year to recognize the scholastically talented students and exceptional faculty members of Mississippi's higher education institutions who have made outstanding contributions in promoting academic excellence; and

     WHEREAS, HEADWAE students and faculty honorees are selected annually by their institutions to participate in the Appreciation Day activities, with the goal to encourage excellence in higher education by promoting these exceptional leaders of our state; and

     WHEREAS, March 2, 2020, marks the 33rd Anniversary of HEADWAE in which the best and brightest students and faculty members are recognized by the 34-member institutions of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities; and

     WHEREAS, the following students and faculty members have been recognized by their institutions as the 2020 HEADWAE honorees:  Alcorn State University, Makayla Nicole Wiley and Melissa Christine Mason; Belhaven University, John Bruening and Seth Parry; Blue Mountain College, Richard Dalton Tudor and Gregory Wayne Long; Coahoma Community College, Aniya Johnson and Robert Rockett; Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Joseph Bryden Herring and Angela Smith; Delta State University, Elizabeth Chandler Swindle and Eckward N. McKnight; East Central Community College, Emilee Jane Tadlock and Robert Curtis Skipper; East Mississippi Community College, Amber Lynn Chancellor and Eljenette Blocker West; Hinds Community College, Maria Fernanda Serratos and Phillip Cockrell; Holmes Community College, Britton English Grace and Angela Jones Miles; Itawamba Community College, Kalyn Nicole Johnson and Edana Pounders Nail; Jackson State University, Patrick L. Stanley and Ronica Arnold Branson; Jones County Junior College, Donavan Blake Hinton and Cody Lane Robertson; Meridian Community College, Brandon Michael Harkins and Sandy Hemmingway Clark; Millsaps College, Luca Kistner and Patrick D. Hopkins; Mississippi College, Aaron Feazelle and John P. Anderson; Mississippi Delta Community College, Melandy Guillen and Amy Creel Biles; Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Terrell William Jordan and Madeline Lynn Zimmerman; Mississippi State University, Jacob Scott Manning and James C. Giesen; Mississippi University for Women, Hallie Grace Cole and Kristi DiClemente; Mississippi Valley State University, Derica S. Pitters and John Q. Zheng; Northeast Mississippi Community College, Elizabeth Morgan Cowan and Morgan Reynolds Tucker; Northwest Mississippi Community College, Satsha Marquise Burden and Lisa Chambers Strong; Pearl River Community College, Alyssa Jordan Necaise and James R. Elbers; Reformed Theological Seminary, Emily Goeglein and Michael Hillerman; Rust College, Briejana Asha Tate and Gemma Douglas Beckley; Southeastern Baptist College, Mae Lois Evans and Corbey Bertrand Jones; Southwest Mississippi Community College, Jacelyn Jade Latham and Debera Stogner Reeves; Tougaloo College, Vanetta Vantrice Brownlow and Lucy Katherine Johnston-Josey; University of Mississippi, Barron Charles Mayfield and John Young; University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jared Michael Akers and Jennifer Craft Bain; The University of Southern Mississippi, Ryan Johnson and Alan M. Shiller; Wesley Biblical Seminary, Grace Elizabeth Andrews and David Benjamin Schreiner; and William Carey University, Caleb Glen Golson and Thomas James Rauch; and

     WHEREAS, each HEADWAE honoree has excelled in the classroom, on the campus and in the community; has made and will continue to make a tremendous difference in our state; and will have a bright future as they continue to pursue excellence in all endeavors; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi believes that it is most appropriate to pay special tribute to and bring deserved recognition and attention to those students and educational instructors of our state's public and private universities, colleges and community colleges who exemplify outstanding academic achievement and exceptional instructional skills:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate March 2, 2020, as Higher Education Appreciation Day - Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE), setting aside that day in order to extend congratulations and express the appreciation of the Legislature and all Mississippians to all of our public and private institutions of higher education and the students and faculty members selected by each of the respective institutions as most representative of the finest traditions in educational instruction and outstanding academic achievement.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be furnished to each 2020 HEADWAE Award recipient, each of Mississippi's public and private universities, colleges and community colleges, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Board for Community Colleges, the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.