HR1076 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1076 LRB097 21526 KXB 69647 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Garret Parker Jr. of Alton, on being named the 2012 Illinois Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs' Youth of the Year; and

WHEREAS, He successfully competed against 20 other Illinois clubs' local youths of the year April 28, 2012 in Peoria, winning over judges with his compelling life story about overcoming disadvantages and difficulties; and

WHEREAS, Winning Illinois Youth of the Year rewarded him with a $1,000 scholarship, and qualifies him to go to the Midwest regional competition July 17 and 18, 2012 in Chicago; that winner will get a $10,000 scholarship; later, the 5 regional winners will compete for national Youth of the Year, who will receive a $15,000 scholarship and be installed by President Barack Obama; and

WHEREAS, Garret Parker Jr. has been a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Alton for 6 years, and has volunteered there more than 100 hours, mentoring, tutoring, and helping children with their homework during "Power Hour" and other activities; he also is in the club's Smart Moves program, which focuses on teaching substance abuse resistance skills; and

WHEREAS, Garret Parker Jr. is in the Alton High School Talent Search, Biology Club, and its related, P.C. Wet, through which advanced students study water quality; as a freshman, he was on the bowling team; he has volunteered in the city's cleanup program and recruited peers for the effort, he rang bells for the Salvation Army, and he participated in a Mississippi River cleanup; he has maintained a 3.1 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale; after graduation, he plans to attend the University of Central Florida in Orlando and major in zoology; he is particularly interested in herpetology; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Garret Parker Jr. on being named the 2012 Illinois Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs' Youth of the Year and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Garret Parker Jr. as a symbol of our respect and esteem.