SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 27

(By Senators Sypolt, Stollings, D. Hall, Prezioso and Williams)

Recognizing the Youth Leadership Association for helping West Virginia youth reach their full potential in developing their leadership and citizenship skills for a lifelong commitment to public service.

            Whereas, The Youth Leadership Association, formerly known as HI-Y, has partnered with the State of West Virginia for more than one hundred years; and

            Whereas, This partnership engages youth in local Youth Leadership Association civic leadership groups, the teen Entrepreneurship and Leadership Summits, as well as the Governor’s Youth Opportunity Camps for low income children at Camp Horseshoe, Youth Leadership Association Model United Nations, and 8th Grade Youth and Government Seminars at the Capitol; and

            Whereas, High school student senators, delegates, justices, lobbyists, press, pages and officers will take part in the 58th Youth Leadership Association Youth in Government Student Legislature and Supreme Court at the Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, on April 24 - 26, 2015; and

            Whereas, The Youth Leadership Association’s youth development process produces new civic leadership for our schools, communities and state, as well as business and institutional leadership, educational achievement, entrepreneurship, and leadership to government at every level; and

            Whereas, The student officers of the Youth Leadership Association Youth in Government program represent hundreds of young West Virginians preparing for life-long citizenship and taking volunteer actions today to build better futures for all across the Mountain State; and

            Whereas, The Youth Leadership Association Youth in Government program, created in 1958 by the late Governor Cecil Underwood, is a program that still has broad based support, including support from Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, Senate President William P. Cole III, House Speaker Tim Armstead, Youth in Government Chairman Senator Roman W. Prezioso, Jr., and members of both the Senate and House of Delegates; and

            Whereas, The Senate recognizes and expresses its appreciation to the Youth Leadership Association and all the hundreds of adult volunteers, schools and community organizations that make it possible for West Virginia youth and the State of West Virginia to benefit from the Youth Leadership Association’s youth leadership development; and

            Whereas, The West Virginia Senate recognizes the 2015 Youth Leadership Association Youth in Government officers, Governor Tyler Jenkins, President of the Senate Chi Chan, Speaker of the House Michael Winters, and Chief Justice Corrin Lewis for their dedication and commitment to the program; and

            Whereas, The Senate expresses its sincere appreciation and thanks to Tyler Jenkins, Chi Chan, Michael Winters, Corrin Lewis and the hundreds of West Virginia Youth Leadership Association youth they represent for taking strides to build a better West Virginia today and for the future; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate:

            That the Senate hereby recognizes the Youth Leadership Association for helping West Virginia youth reach their full potential in developing their leadership and citizenship skills for a lifelong commitment to public service; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate officials of the Youth Leadership Association.