ENROLLED 2015 Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 147 BY REPRESENTATIVES ST. GERMAIN, BARROW, HILL, HODGES, JACKSON, NANCY LANDRY, MORENO, NORTON, SMITH, STOKES, THIERRY, WHITNEY, AND WOODRUFF AND SENATORS BROOME, BUFFINGTON, DORSEY-COLOMB, AND PETERSON A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION To commend Naomi Maria Smith upon her receipt of a 2015 Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation in the category of High School Woman of Excellence and upon being a recipient of a Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation Scholarship. WHEREAS, Naomi Maria Smith is the daughter of Mike and Joni Smith and a senior at Alfred M. Barbe High School in Lake Charles; and WHEREAS, Naomi has a passion for sports and has played softball, basketball, volleyball, track, golf, and soccer; she qualified in the top eight for the Junior Olympics in javelin and traveled to Norfolk, Virginia, where she finished in the top ten in the nation; and WHEREAS, she has qualified twice for the javelin state competition and in 2014, she received fourth place; she hopes to continue her love for track and field on the collegiate level; and WHEREAS, she was a member of an elite club volleyball team for three years, and under her senior leadership, her high school volleyball team competed in the semifinals at the state volleyball tournament; in recognition of her extraordinary athletic ability, Naomi was voted player with the "Most Hustle" by her coaches and was named the most valuable player for two consecutive years on her school's soccer team; and WHEREAS, Naomi is an active member of her community, volunteering through her church and working on local service projects such as helping her local food pantry to stock and organize food drives, serving on a cleaning crew for the USS Orleck ship, helping with the reconstruction of Millennium Park in Lake Charles, and packing pills and other medical supplies for mission trips around the world; and Page 1 of 3 HCR NO. 147 ENROLLED WHEREAS, Naomi traveled to Sanyati, Zimbabwe, where she worked at a hospital for two weeks during the summer; while in Zimbabwe, she hauled medical supplies, helped with construction and repairs on a hospital, visited elementary schools, and worked with midwives at a remote birthing facility; and WHEREAS, throughout high school, she has been involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, Spanish Club, and the National Honor Society; she served with the Lake Charles Youth Advisory Council to present ideas to local political leaders and traveled to the state capitol to voice opinions on policies to state congressional representatives; she was also a member of Future Business Leaders of America and a two- time national qualifier in public speaking and personal finance; and WHEREAS, upon her graduation from Alfred M. Barbe High School, Naomi will attend Louisiana State University to double major in English and business law and minor in international relations; she hopes to attend law school in the future; 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 WHEREAS, for 2015, there are six categories for the Women of Excellence Awards: Business, College Woman of Excellence, Health and Medicine, High School Woman of Excellence, Louisiana Hero of Excellence, and Nonprofit of Excellence; and WHEREAS, the recipients of the 2015 Women of Excellence Awards are being recognized at the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation's Women of Excellence Awards Gala on Tuesday, May 26, 2015; and WHEREAS, Naomi Maria Smith has been named a recipient of a 2015 Women of Excellence Award in the category of High School Woman of Excellence and also is a recipient of a Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation Scholarship for her accomplishments and personification of excellence in integrity, character, academics, leadership, and community service; and Page 2 of 3 HCR NO. 147 ENROLLED WHEREAS, Naomi Maria Smith merits a sincere and heartfelt measure of commendation for her dedication to excellence and her outstanding accomplishments, and it is appropriate for the Legislature of Louisiana to commend Naomi Maria Smith upon her receipt of a 2015 Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation and of a Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation Scholarship. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Naomi Maria Smith upon her receipt of a 2015 Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation in the category of High School Woman of Excellence and upon her receipt of a Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation Scholarship; does hereby recognize and record for posterity her singular contributions to the citizens of Louisiana; and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for the tremendous pride and honor that she brings to her community and the state of Louisiana. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Naomi Maria Smith. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 3 of 3