SENATE RESOLUTION

8781

By Senators Shin and Fraser

     WHEREAS, volunteerism has always been a way for individuals to give back to their communities; and   

     WHEREAS, Lynnwood High School has embraced this idea wholeheartedly with the newly developed Royal Student Volunteer Program (RSVP), which places Lynnwood High School student volunteers into the middle and elementary schools that feed Lynnwood High School; and

     WHEREAS, this new program, developed by Vicky Hopper and Martin Louie, both Lynnwood High School teachers, germinated with one student wanting to do some volunteer work at Martha Lake Elementary; and

     WHEREAS, two months later, there are now more than sixty students placed, or in the process of being placed, in seven different schools, including Alderwood Middle, Hazelwood Elementary, Hilltop Elementary, Lynnwood Intermediate, Martha Lake Elementary, Oak Heights Elementary, and Spruce Primary; and

     WHEREAS, at the end of their school day, these sixty Lynnwood High School students board buses or drive their cars to their volunteer schools to spend additional hours several times a week to mentor younger students; and

     WHEREAS, the work done by the LHS volunteers range from one-on-one tutoring in the classroom to helping with after-school activity programs; and

     WHEREAS, the costs of the program are minimal, but the benefits are tremendous; and

     WHEREAS, the younger student benefits from the personalized attention of the older LHS Abrother@ or Asister,@ and the teacher benefits from the additional support in the classroom; and

     WHEREAS, the greatest benefit to the LHS volunteers is the tremendous satisfaction of helping a younger student overcome the obstacles and difficulties associated with academic work; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to the possibility of earning volunteer credit, the student volunteer is able to include this new experience on college applications and resumes;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate do hereby commend Lynnwood High School,  Vicky Hopper, and Martin Louie for establishing the Royal Student Volunteer Program, recognizing their tremendous efforts to improve the community and engender the volunteer spirit in our students.

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit a copy of this resolution to Lynnwood High School, Vicky Hopper, Martin Louie, and participating LHS student volunteers.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8781,

adopted by the Senate March 12, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate