WHEREAS, The Washington State Achievers Scholarship Program was founded in 2000 to assist high school students striving for higher education; and
     WHEREAS, The Achievers Scholarship Program was created through a collaborative effort by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Washington Education Foundation; and
     WHEREAS, Sixteen high schools in Washington are Achievers schools with a focus on preparing students for a college education with mentors and scholarship opportunities; and
     WHEREAS, The Achievers Scholarship Program aims to create a positive environment and provide funding for children of low-income families to attend college; and
     WHEREAS, The Achievers Scholarship Program works actively with teachers to enforce the three Rs: Rigor in courses, relevance of the courses and coursework, and relationships in creating a college-going culture; and
     WHEREAS, Before the creation of the program, only nine percent of children from low-income families earned a bachelor's degree, yet with the creation of the Achievers Scholarship Program, seventy-five percent of the participants are expected to receive a bachelor's degree; and
     WHEREAS, The Achievers Scholarship Program is a highly successful effort to increase college enrollment of students in Washington and has earned recognition for its contributions to education and youth;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate support the role of the Washington State Achievers Scholarship Program; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to all sixteen Achievers high schools, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Washington Education Foundation.