HR1107 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1107 LRB094 20117 HSS 57822 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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