SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 26
(By Senators Lucht and Yoder)
Congratulating John Ronald Unger II, West Virginia University's
twenty-fourth Rhodes Scholar.
Whereas, John Ronald Unger II was born in Martinsburg,
Berkeley County, West Virginia, in 1969, the son of John Unger
and Starlette J. Laughlin; and
Whereas, After graduating from Martinsburg High School where
he achieved academic honors, John Ronald Unger II entered West
Virginia University, majoring in mechanical and biomechanical
engineering and he plans to attend medical school and practice
rural medicine in West Virginia; and
Whereas, During his tenure at West Virginia University, John
Ronald Unger II has involved himself in a myriad of community and
religious projects, including, assisting with the homeless in
Morgantown with the establishment of the Employment and Training
Program and he also established the same program in Hong Kong for
Vietnamese refugees waiting for settlement. Unger has also
worked with Amnesty International collecting information of human
rights violations against the Vietnamese boat people and he took
a year leave of absence from West Virginia University to work
with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India, where he coordinated the
distribution of relief supplies. Unger also served as a member
of the International Rescue Committee and the U.S. StateDepartment Disaster Assistance Response Team providing relief for
Kurdish refugees in southern Turkey and northern Iraq after the
Persian Gulf War; and
Whereas, After his return to West Virginia University, John
Ronald Unger II was awarded the United States Presidential
Certificate of Merit for national service and was appointed by
Governor Gaston Caperton to the West Virginia National and
Community Service Advisory Board; and
Whereas, When disaster struck at home, John Ronald Unger II
assisted with organizing the West Virginia Students United Relief
in Florida following the destruction left by Hurricane Andrew;
and
Whereas, In December 1992, John Ronald Unger II was named
West Virginia University's twenty-fourth Rhodes Scholar. This
distinguished award, established in 1903 by Cecil Rhodes and
given yearly to thirty-two distinguished scholars nationwide,
grants the recipients a two-year study experience at Oxford
University; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate congratulates John Ronald Unger II for his
selection as a Rhodes Scholar and for his dedicated public
service to his fellow man around the world; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to
forward a copy of this resolution to John Ronald Unger II; the
president of West Virginia University; and the principal of
Martinsburg High School.