SENATE RESOLUTION

                            8627

By Senators Benton, Fraser, West, Stevens, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Morton, Patterson, Rasmussen and Kohl-Welles

     WHEREAS, The 2001 Prudential Spirit of Community Award, presented by The Prudential Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, honors young volunteers across America who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving their communities; and

     WHEREAS, Cameron Byrd, 16,  from Camas, Washington, and a sophomore at Portland Christian High, has helped raise more than $300,000 for breast cancer prevention and youth causes by recording CD=s and playing concerts with his rock band; and

     WHEREAS, Tim Wilken, 16,  a 4-H member and a student at Sprague High School, founded a program that provides computers and computer lessons to senior citizens and low-income families in his rural community; and

     WHEREAS, Michaela Raikes, 13, an eighth-grader at Villa Academy, started a program that provides birthday parties for children staying at an emergency shelter with their mothers; and

     WHEREAS, Jennifer Gibson, 17, of Granite Falls, a senior at Granite Falls High School, helped start a Teen Court in her school to help troubled youth avoid suspension and learn from their mistakes; and

     WHEREAS, Heath Hilton, 15, of Monroe, a student at Monroe High School, organized a group of young people and senior citizens to plant an intergenerational community garden and donate the harvest to a local food bank; and

     WHEREAS, Corey McCrea, 18, of Snohomish, a senior at Snohomish High School, initiated the development of a skate park in his community, and raised $110,000 and secured land for the park, to be built in April of this year; and

     WHEREAS, Sonja Ray, 17, of Seattle, a senior at Tyee High School in SeaTac, co-chaired a campaign to collect clothes and money for homeless youth in the Seattle area; and

     WHEREAS, Erin Richardson, 17, of Spokane, a senior at Joel E. Ferris High School, helped win a $25,000 grant to conduct a public awareness campaign about the environmental and health hazards of field burning; and

     WHEREAS, Alden Tucker, 17, of Lacey, a junior at North Thurston High School, lobbied the State Legislature to pass a bill enabling teenagers to serve as bone marrow donors (the bill was signed into law in March, 2000) and helped collect money and registrations for marrow donations; and

     WHEREAS, the success of the state of Washington, the strength of our communities, and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon the dedication of young people like Cameron Byrd, Tim Wilken, Michaela Raikes, Jennifer Gibson, Heath Hilton, Corey McCrea, Sonja Ray, Erin Richardson and Alden Tucker, who use their considerable talents and resources to serve others;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate congratulate and honor Cameron Byrd, Tim Wilken, Michaela Raikes, Jennifer Gibson, Heath Hilton, Corey McCrea, Sonja Ray, Erin Richardson and Alden Tucker as recipients of Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, recognize their outstanding records of volunteer service, peer leadership, and community spirit, and extend best wishes for their continued success and happiness; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit copies of this resolution to Cameron Byrd, Tim Wilken, Michaela Raikes, Jennifer Gibson, Heath Hilton, Corey McCrea, Sonja Ray, Erin Richardson and Alden Tucker.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8627,

adopted by the Senate April 10, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate