SENATE RESOLUTION
8705

By Senators Rolfes, Parlette, Chase, Ericksen, McAuliffe, Angel, Ranker, Hasegawa, Roach, Fraser, Kline, Braun, Nelson, Litzow, Honeyford, Hatfield, O'Ban, Dammeier, Rivers, Dansel, Schoesler, Baumgartner, Becker, Pedersen, Eide, Mullet, Kohl-Welles, Hewitt, Fain, Frockt, Hill, Hargrove, King, Keiser, McCoy, Pearson, Bailey, Brown, Liias, Billig, Conway, Cleveland, Padden, Tom, Darneille, and Hobbs

     WHEREAS, Education is a core tenet of our State Constitution and government; and
     WHEREAS, Judi Best joined the Washington State Legislature's Civic Education program in 1994 and has faithfully served the Senate for 20 years; and
     WHEREAS, Judi Best has tirelessly worked to create more informed and engaged citizens through the Washington State Legislative Policy Internship Program; and
     WHEREAS, The Internship Program has undergone exceptional expansion and improvement under Judi Best's oversight; and
     WHEREAS, Judi Best's passion and dedication have helped build a program that is the gold standard for comparable programs across the nation, winning the Kevin B. Harrington Excellence in Democracy Education Award from the National Conference of State Legislatures in 2012; and
     WHEREAS, The Internship Program has helped interns obtain invaluable experience and exposure to the Legislature, and now boasts a unified network of over 1,000 alumni; and
     WHEREAS, In addition to expanding the Civic Education program, Judi Best's work has resulted in substantial upgrades to other programs, such as improving the Page School, as well as creating the Legislative Scholar Program and the Civics Consortium; and
     WHEREAS, Judi Best's efforts have been recognized at the state and federal level, as she has received the Civic Education Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2014 Charles F. Kettering Award from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association, which recognizes "an employer from industry, business, or government who provides outstanding resources and service to the cooperative education and internship field"; and
     WHEREAS, Judi Best has carried out her duties with unparalleled enthusiasm and selflessness, stating that she measures her success not through the awards and honors she receives, but through the ongoing achievements of former interns; and
     WHEREAS, Judi Best is serving her final session with the Washington State Legislature and intends to retire at its conclusion so that she may do great things elsewhere;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate enthusiastically honor and appreciate the work and life of Judi Best and encourage all citizens to join in the recognition of her many contributions to our great state.

I, Hunter G. Goodman, Secretary of the Senate,
do hereby certify that this is a true and
correct copy of Senate Resolution 8705,
adopted by the Senate
March 6, 2014

HUNTER G. GOODMAN
Secretary of the Senate