HLS 14RS-5526 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 179
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Jalen Scott on being named the Grand Prize winner of
the Golden Climate International Environmental Project Olympiad and receiving the
Wangari Maathai Special Award
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Jalen Scott of Baton Rouge on traveling to Nairobi, Kenya, to win the Grand2
Prize in the Golden Climate International Environmental Project Olympiad, the3
Wangari Maathai Special Award.4
WHEREAS, Jalen Scott is an eight grade student at Kennilworth Science and5
Technology Charter School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and6
WHEREAS, for a science fair project in 2013, Jalen Scott used a hand-held X-ray7
spectrometer provided by LSU Associate Professor David Weindorf to conduct scientific8
research on the amount of lead in the soil at eleven school playgrounds in the Baton Rouge9
area; and10
WHEREAS, his research revealed that at four of the eleven playgrounds, lead levels11
exceeded United States Environmental Protection Agency screening limits; and12
WHEREAS, the high quality of this research allowed Jason Scott, with the assistance13
of LSU graduate students, to have his research published in the academic journal, Soil14
Horizons; and15
WHEREAS, this publication generated national attention for his research project and16
Jalen Scott was invited to Washington, D.C., where he met with the United States Secretary17
of Education, Arne Duncan, Senator Mary Landrieu, and Representative Bill Cassidy; and18
WHEREAS, Jalen Scott was then selected as the only United States finalist to19
participate in the Golden Climate International Environmental Project Olympiad in Nairobi,20
Kenya, a contest which included one hundred thirty-five student competitors from thirty-one21
countries; and22 HLS 14RS-5526 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 179
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WHEREAS, the Golden Climate International Environmental Project Olympiad is1
a science competition for primary and high school students which promotes a global2
understanding of environmental issues and offers students challenges and opportunities for3
future participation in efforts at discovery of solutions for environmental sustainability; and4
WHEREAS, the Wangari Maathai Special Award is named after environmentalist5
Wangari Maathai who was the first female African to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize;6
and7
WHEREAS, Jalen Scott traveled to Nairobi, Kenya in May 2014, accompanied by8
his father, Sherman Scott, and his science teacher, Elkhan Akhundov, to participate in the9
Golden Climate International Environmental Project Olympiad and meet and engage with10
students from around the world; and11
WHEREAS, Jalen Scott of Baton Rouge was awarded the 2014 Grand Prize of the12
Gold Climate International Environmental Project Olympiad, the Wangari Maathai Special13
Award on May 2, 2014.14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the15
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Jalen Scott for winning the 2014 Wangari16
Maathai Special Award, the Grand Prize in the Gold Climate International Environmental17
Project Olympiad. 18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted19
to Jalen Scott.20
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Smith HR No. 179
Commends Jalen Scott for winning the 2014 Wangari Maathai Special Award which is the
Grand Prize in the Gold Climate International Environmental Project Olympiad.