HR1107

LRB094 20117 HSS 57822 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Students of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School 
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in Gibson City were inspired to participate in the 2005-2006 
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Project Ignition program, largely because of a tragic accident 
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involving twin brothers Steve and Greg Arends; and



 
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    WHEREAS, Project Ignition, sponsored by State Farm and 
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coordinated by the National Youth Leadership Council, gives 
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high school students and their teachers a unique opportunity to 
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work together in addressing the critical issues of teen driver 
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safety and how it affects them, their community, and the world 
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around them; and



 
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    WHEREAS, The GCMS project team, including 43 students and 2 
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teachers, produced Safe Driving DVDs, original soundtracks, 
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and PowerPoint presentations that were shown school-wide and 
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throughout the community, all centered around the theme 
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"License to Live - Shattered Dreams"; and



 
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    WHEREAS, The team encouraged participation from around the 
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community, including poster contests for elementary and middle 
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school students, presentations by emergency room nurses from 
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the local hospital, writing contests and seat belt incentives, 
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and meetings with the faculty and city officials; and



 
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    WHEREAS, As a result of the students' and teachers' 
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untiring work, seat belt usage among students at GCMS High 
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School increased, while the number of speeding tickets and 
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automobile accidents decreased; and



 
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    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois Department of Motor 
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Vehicles, under the jurisdiction of Secretary of State Jesse 
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White, plans to play the Project Ignition Team's Safe Driving 
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DVD at every facility; and


 
 


 






HR1107
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LRB094 20117 HSS 57822 r




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    WHEREAS, The GCMS Project Ignition Team was the only 
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Illinois team selected to compete for the national prize, 
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winning a $5,000 stipend from State Farm to travel to the 
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National Youth Leadership Council's 17th Annual National 
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Service-Learning Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to 
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present their "License to Live - Shattered Dreams" Program 
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before an international audience and a renowned panel of 
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judges; and


 
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    WHEREAS, On Friday, March 24, 2006, the Gibson 
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City-Melvin-Sibley High School Project Ignition Team was 
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announced as the national BEST OF THE BEST, winning an 
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additional grant of $10,000 to be used in continuing the driver 
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safety project; and


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois proudly recognize the dedication and hard 
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work of this outstanding team and commend all those involved in 
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making this project a success and in making a positive 
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difference in our communities and across the State, especially 
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teachers Judy Weber-Jones and KiLee Widwell; therefore, be it



 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Project Ignition 
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Team on winning the national Best of the Best award; and be it 
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further


 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to each member and teacher involved in the GCMS 
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Project Ignition Team as an expression of our esteem.