Senate Concurrent Resolution 673

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AND FORMER SENATE PAGE JAVARCIA IVORY AS THE SCHOOL'S 2015 STUDENT-TEACHER ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION (STAR) STUDENT, AND RECOGNIZE ALIX WILLIAMS AS THE STAR TEACHER CHOSEN BY JAVARCIA IVORY.

WHEREAS, Clinton High School senior Javarcia Ivory is the school's 2015 STAR Student. Javarcia is the son of April Scott and Thessaiol Ivory II. He was chosen as the STAR Student after scoring 34 on the ACT test; and

WHEREAS, Javarcia is a National Merit Commended Scholar and a National Achievement Finalist. He has received numerous awards, including subject area awards in Honors Spanish IV, AP Chemistry, AP U.S. History, AP English III and AP Biology. In 2014, he was named one of Portico Magazine's 25 Students Who Will Change the World; and

WHEREAS, after graduation, Javarcia plans to pursue a degree in biophysics or biochemistry with the hopes of becoming a cardiologist or physician researcher. He is still undecided about the college he will attend; and

WHEREAS, Javarcia chose Alix Williams, AP English language and literature teacher, as the STAR Teacher this year. Williams has taught for 20 years. "I enjoy teaching AP English because I teach novels that my students can relate to," she said. Williams received both her undergraduate and masters degrees from Mississippi College. This is the seventh time she has been chosen as a STAR Teacher; and

WHEREAS, Javarcia and Williams will be recognized by the Mississippi Economic Council M.B. Swayze Foundation, sponsor of the STAR program, during the annual Education Celebration on April 30 at the Jackson Convention Center; and

WHEREAS, any Mississippi high school with at least one senior with a score of 25 or greater on the American College Test and a 93 or higher grade-point average is eligible to name one STAR student, who then shares the honor with one teacher. Subsequent nominees from the same school must have at least a 35 on the ACT and at least a 93 GPA; and

WHEREAS, for both the student and the teacher, it is a huge honor because of the student's achievements and because the student chooses the teacher who had the most impact on their educational career; and

WHEREAS, these students are the folks who will be performing our surgery one day, building our skyscrapers and solving world problems; and it is with great pride that we recognize this student whose record of achievement has brought honor to his school, community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Clinton High School senior and former Senate Page Javarcia Ivory as the school's 2015 Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) student, and recognize Alix Williams as the STAR teacher chosen by Javarcia Ivory; and extend our best wishes to Javarcia Ivory and his family, his teachers and administrators on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Javarcia Ivory and Alix Williams, forwarded to the Clinton School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.