2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 112
BY SENATORS COLOMB, BARROW, HEWITT, MIZELL AND PETERSON AND
REPRESENTATIVES AMEDEE, CARPENTER, DAVIS, EMERSON,
HILFERTY, HILL, HODGES, HORTON, JACKSON, NANCY
LANDRY, MARCELLE, MORENO, NORTON, SMITH, STOKES
AND WHITE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To commend Rachel Christina Oatis upon her receipt of a 2016 Women of Excellence
Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation in the category
of College Women of Excellence and upon being a recipient of a Louisiana
Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation Scholarship.
WHEREAS, Rachel Christina Oatis, a native of Lutcher, Louisiana, is currently a
sophomore political science major completing her undergraduate studies at Spelman College
in Atlanta, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the daughter of Reverend Dr. Charles and Rolinda Oatis, she attended
Lutcher High School, graduating with honors while serving as the youngest person in her
community to pass an ordinance; and
WHEREAS, Rachel Oatis is the founder of the St. James Parish Youth Commission
in which young people learn the inner workings of local government; and
WHEREAS, over the course of one year, she has served as a student volunteer for
the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, lead chapel assistant for Sisters Chapel,
a voter registration aide on Saturdays, and served as an intern for Congressman John Lewis,
Georgia's 5th Congressional District Representative; and
WHEREAS, on campus she is very active in Spelman's Student Ambassador
Organization and serves as a public speaker for some of the college's esteemed events; and
WHEREAS, Rachel traveled to Tobago, Trinidad for a cultural enrichment
engagement to learn behavior and leadership styles of Caribbean women serving in
government and academics; participated in the Southern University Law Center's Civil
Rights Restorative Justice Project, through which she conducted research on policy
initiatives on anti-civil rights violence in the United States from the 1930s to 1950s; and
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WHEREAS, Rachel is also a participant in Spelman's Independent Scholars
Interdisciplinary Study Program, where she is documenting oral histories through
interviewing elderly African-American women; and
WHEREAS, through these and other service learning opportunities, she finds that
she has grown in the areas of teamwork, problem solving and action planning, and working
hands-on in the community has fostered her empathy and self-efficacy and has allowed her
to take an active role in helping to shape her community and campus life; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation created the
Women of Excellence Awards to recognize and honor extraordinary women 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 2016, there are four categories for the Women of Excellence
Awards: College Women of Excellence, High School Women of Excellence, Louisiana Hero
of Excellence, and Nonprofit of Excellence; and
WHEREAS, the recipients of the 2016 Women of Excellence Awards are being
recognized at the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation's Women of
Excellence Awards & Scholarships Ceremony and Reception on Tuesday, May 24, 2016;
and
WHEREAS, Rachel Christina Oatis has been named a recipient of a 2016 Women
of Excellence Award in the category of College Women of Excellence and is also 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
WHEREAS, Rachel Christina Oatis 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 Rachel Christina Oatis upon
her receipt of a 2016 Women of Excellence Award from the Louisiana Legislative Women's
Caucus Foundation and a Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation Scholarship.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Rachel Christina Oatis upon her receipt of a 2016 Women of Excellence Award
from the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation in the category of College
Women 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 copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Rachel Christina Oatis.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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