SLS 14RS-3751 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 146
BY SENATORS ADLEY, AMEDEE, BUFFINGTON, DORSEY-COLOMB, LAFLEUR,
LONG, RISER AND WHITE
COMMENDATIONS. Commends recipients of the 2014 Louisiana Young Heroes Awards -
Caroline Beard, Joshua Castille, Kamryn "Kami" Chauncy, Cody Crews, Morgan Gautreau,
Elizabeth Kasongo, Andrew Matthews, and Isaac McFarland.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend and congratulate the recipients of the 2014 Louisiana Young Heroes Awards.2
WHEREAS, this year six high school students and two middle school students were3
chosen as the 2014 Louisiana Young Heroes Award recipients; and4
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Young Heroes Awards are given each year to students in5
grades seven through twelve who have excelled in academics and public service while6
overcoming adversity in their own lives and serve as an inspiration to others through their7
actions and strength of character; and8
WHEREAS, these awards are presented by Louisiana Public Broadcasting and the9
Rotary Club of Baton Rouge and underwritten this year by Acadian Companies, Blue Cross10
and Blue Shield of Louisiana, CenturyLink, and the Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge11
Foundation; and12
WHEREAS, this year's Young Heroes are Caroline Beard, Joshua Castille, Kamryn13
"Kami" Chauncy, Cody Crews, Morgan Gautreau, Elizabeth Kasongo, Andrew Matthews,14
and Isaac McFarland; and15
WHEREAS, seventh grader and skilled artist Caroline Beard, overcame cancer and16
the loss of vision in her left eye, had a Christmas ornament she designed in 2005 selected17
by Oprah Winfrey as one of her 100 gifts for that year and her artwork continues to be a top18
seller for St. Jude Hospital's fundraising efforts; and19 SR NO. 146
SLS 14RS-3751 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, despite senior Joshua Castille's long list of health challenges, he finds1
the time to organize and host Archery Shoots that raise money for Dreams Come True, a2
nonprofit organization dedicated to granting the dreams of children with life-threatening3
illnesses; and4
WHEREAS, freshman Kami Chauncy, also a cancer survivor, has dedicated her5
efforts to raising money through collecting aluminum can tabs, sponsoring Relay for Life6
teams since 2007, and along with her classmates, spear-headed the drive to get the State of7
Louisiana to allow the St. Jude license plate to be sold as an official license plate in8
Louisiana, further raising money for the charity; and9
WHEREAS, after being attacked by a large dog during the Hurricane Rita relief10
efforts that caused serious damage to his face, mouth and tongue, sophomore Cody Crews,11
initiated the Send a Book On Safari program to help children in Africa learn English, reads12
to children in daycares after school, and joined his sister, Cassidy, in the Soles4Soles13
program to collect shoes for the less fortunate; and14
WHEREAS, despite multiple surgeries and her on going struggle with Spina Bifida,15
eighth grader Morgan Gautreau set up a program called Making a Difference With Morgan16
and raised eighteen thousand dollars for research into a cause and cure for Spina Bifida; and17
WHEREAS, junior Elizabeth Kasongo and her family narrowly escaped from the18
Congo after they were marked for death during the genocide in the African country; now19
living in Baton Rouge, she is writing a book about her family's story, became active in the20
pro-life movement and collects food and other items for the less fortunate in her community;21
and22
WHEREAS, after being born three and a half months early and struggling with a long23
list of physical issues and challenges, junior Andrew Matthews now volunteers with24
Vacation Bible School, serves as an athletic trainer and has become a certified Louisiana25
State First Responder; and as part of the EMS Explorer Program, he volunteered more than26
four hundred hours in his first year and received the Explorer Post 912 Service Award; and27
WHEREAS, when junior Isaac McFarland learned that one out of three children in28
Louisiana do not receive meals on a consistent basis, he started Game Changers Let's Tackle29
Hunger, for which he received a national grant to get officials, celebrities, classmates, junior30
ranchers and other interested parties on board to donate more than a thousand decorated31 SR NO. 146
SLS 14RS-3751 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
tackle boxes, which his organization filled with non-perishable breakfast items and delivered1
to families; he also launched a city-wide food drive to eliminate hunger in his community2
that collected several tons of food; and3
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,4
and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon young people5
like Caroline Beard, Joshua Castille, Kamryn "Kami" Chauncy, Cody Crews, Morgan6
Gautreau, Elizabeth Kasongo, Andrew Matthews, and Isaac McFarland, who, even when7
faced with adversity, continuously strive to make their communities, state and the world a8
better place.9
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby10
commends the 2014 recipients of the Louisiana Young Heroes Award, expresses gratitude11
for the extraordinary service they provide in their communities and the contributions they12
make to the state of Louisiana, and honors the pride, courage, bravery, and determination13
they have shown in overcoming personal adversity to achieve their extraordinary14
accomplishments.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to each16
recipient of the 2014 Louisiana Young Heroes Award.17
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Adley SR No. 146
Commends recipients of the 2014 Louisiana Young Heroes Awards - Caroline Beard, Joshua
Castille, Kamryn "Kami" Chauncy, Cody Crews, Morgan Gautreau, Elizabeth Kasongo,
Andrew Matthews, and Isaac McFarland.