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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 81
BY SENATORS PETERSON, BROOME, BUFFINGTON AND DORSEY-COLOMB
AND REPRESENTATIVES BARROW, CHAMPAGNE, HILL,
HODGES, KATRINA JACKSON, NANCY LANDRY, MORENO,
NORTON, SMITH, ST. GERMAIN, THIERRY AND WHITNEY
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend Jennifer Young Tu of New Orleans on being selected as a recipient of a 2012
Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus
Foundation.
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to commend Jennifer Young Tu upon her receipt of a
2012 Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus
Foundation and to recognize her vital contributions to the citizens of Louisiana as an active
and dedicated community servant; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer's bedtime stories were her parents' experiences during the
cultural revolution of the 1960s; her parents did not have the opportunity to complete high
school and whenever Jennifer faces a challenge, she thinks of her mother rising each dawn
to survey the vast wheat field yet to be harvested and her father poring over a beat-up
notebook by moonlight as their indomitable work ethic despite the circumstances has
inspired her to face challenges head-on and pursue opportunities with a positive mind set;
and
WHEREAS, Jennifer's achievements have included perfect scores on the SAT and
eight AP exams, National AP Scholar and National Merit awards, and finally her acceptance
to Harvard, her desire to care for her parents as they age has influenced her interest in
geriatric medicine, and in the fall of 2012 she will matriculate at Harvard University and
plans to fulfill her premed requirements with a concentration in neurobiology; and
WHEREAS, as a Bezos Scholar at the Aspen Institutes' Ideas Festival 2011, Jennifer
founded Generation to Generations (GEN2GENS), which brings personal connections to a SCR NO. 81 ENROLLED
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new level, bridging generations through face-to-face interaction and funded by the Bezos
Scholar's Award and collaborating with the Orleans School Board, Rotary Club, AARP, and
six nursing homes to expand their impact, the GEN2GENS team has organized ongoing
activities with elderly communities and the first annual Generations Fest; and
WHEREAS, even before GEN2GENS, Jennifer had begun a deep relationship with
her community as in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Chinese Baptist
Church's previous pianist moved out of state and when services resumed, she filled the
vacant spot; and
WHEREAS, though only eleven, Jennifer learned to sight-read like a professional
and since 2006, she has played for baptisms and testimonies, backed up children's choirs and
adult choruses, and livened up weddings and funerals; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer has brought her musical passion to her high school, starting and
leading the Young Pianists' Club (YPC) which became a social outlet for the otherwise
lonesome nature of the solitary pianist; and
WHEREAS, the club orchestrates seasonal recitals at Benjamin Franklin High
School, as well as at retirement homes in conjunction with GEN2GENS, and, as a result,
Jennifer and the YPC were featured on NPR's From the Top in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer has led her high school's academic games team to two National
Tournaments, bringing home two gold trophies as Propaganda champion; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer is an executive board member of the Mu Alpha Theta math
honors society, preparing pre-cal students for competitive problem solving, and has been
Public Relations Officer of Amnesty International and the National Honors Society, as well
as a previous member of the Speech team, French Culture Club, Science Olympiad, and
swim team; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation created the
Women of Excellence Awards to recognize and honor extraordinary women of excellence
across the state for their outstanding achievements and contributions; and
WHEREAS, recipients of the Women of Excellence Awards exhibit characteristics
of integrity and professionalism, personify excellence in their area of specialty, and are
committed to community service to better society as a whole; and SCR NO. 81 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, this year, there were seven categories for the Women of Excellence
Awards: Business, College Woman of Excellence, Education & Research, Government &
Law, High School Woman of Excellence, Science, Technology, Engineering &
Mathematics, and Volunteerism and Civic Involvement; and
WHEREAS, the recipients of the 2012 Women of Excellence Awards are being
recognized at the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation's Women of
Excellence Awards Gala on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in Baton Rouge; and
WHEREAS, she was selected to receive a 2012 Women of Excellence Award in the
category of High School Woman of Excellence & Recipient of the LLWC foundation
scholarship for her highly productive community activism and service; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer Young Tu merits a sincere and heartfelt measure of
commendation for her dedication to excellence and her outstanding accomplishments.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Jennifer Young Tu of New Orleans as a recipient of a 2012 Women of Excellence
Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation, does hereby recognize
and record for posterity her singular contributions to the citizens of Louisiana as an active
and dedicated community servant, and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for the
tremendous honor and pride that she brings to her family and friends, the city of New
Orleans, and the state of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Jennifer Young Tu.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES