SLS 18RS-2589 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 94
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Sunjay Letchuman upon his selection as the 2018
Louisiana High School Student of the Year.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend and congratulate Caddo Magnet High School senior, Sunjay Letchuman of
3 Shreveport, upon his selection as the 2018 High School Student of the Year by the
4 Louisiana Department of Education and to note his extraordinary accomplishments.
5 WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes the
6 energy, intelligence, and achievements of Sunjay Letchuman, a high school senior and a
7 dynamic young man who has demonstrated excellence in academic achievement, medical
8 research, community service, and citizenship; and
9 WHEREAS, contestants are chosen from each of three categories, high school,
10 middle school, and elementary school; and
11 WHEREAS, 2018 Student of the Year winners are chosen from a list of twenty-one
12 regional finalists from all seven regions of the state and represent both public and private
13 schools; the selection process requires submission of a resume of accomplishments, samples
14 of essay writings, and interviews conducted by selection committee members who assess the
15 communication and critical-thinking skills of each candidate; and
16 WHEREAS, the "Louisiana Believes" program that honors the scholastic abilities
17 of these exceptional students is sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Education, and
18 on April 11, 2018, presentations were made at an awards ceremony held at the Louisiana
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SLS 18RS-2589 ORIGINAL
1 State Museum in Baton Rouge; and
2 WHEREAS, Sunjay had previously competed in the program as an eighth-grader and
3 won the 2014 Caddo Parish Middle School Student of the Year award; and
4 WHEREAS, Sunjay is also particularly commended for his attention to academics
5 by maintaining a 4.0 grade point average and earning a thirty-five (35) on the ACT college
6 entrance exam; he is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and an Advanced Placement
7 Scholarship participant; and
8 WHEREAS, with numerous honors for academic endeavors and extracurricular
9 activities which include selection as a finalist in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science
10 and Technology, as a second-place winner of the 2018 Louisiana Region I Science and
11 Engineering Fair, and as a first-place winner in the 2018 Louisiana Junior Science and
12 Humanities Symposium; Sunjay Letchuman exemplifies the finest qualities of scholarship;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, he possess a keen interest in the advanced study of biomedical
15 engineering as a research student at the Biomedical Research Foundation (BRF) and at the
16 LSU Health Science Center (Shreveport) Science and Medicine Academic Research
17 Training Program (SMART); and
18 WHEREAS, Sunjay will compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair
19 held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May; and
20 WHEREAS, at BRF, his scientific research project titled "Differential Redox Profiles
21 of Veins and Arteries Associated with Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Failure" focuses on the
22 investigation of the systemic failure of coronary artery grafts over time; and
23 WHEREAS, Sunjay takes an active leadership role in organizations at Caddo Magnet
24 High School such as Mock Trial Club, Key Club International, and the Asian Studies
25 Association; and
26 WHEREAS, as a well-rounded student, Sunjay places academics as a top priority;
27 however, he balances his schedule with athletics that include tennis and cross-country track
28 and with leisure pursuits such as board games, gardening, and chess; and
29 WHEREAS, he volunteers his time at the Overton Brooks Veterans Administration
30 Medical Center; and
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SLS 18RS-2589 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, as a published writer, Sunjay has penned a guide to personal finance and
2 consumer credit for young adults titled "Handbook of Essentials that Every High Schooler
3 Needs to Know: About Finance and Much More!"; and
4 WHEREAS, with a bright future ahead, Sunjay is considering several career paths
5 with interests in medicine, biomedical research or engineering, and finance; and
6 WHEREAS, Sunjay Letchuman is a multi-talented scholar with a plethora of skills
7 and a maturity beyond his years who demonstrates a commitment to excellence that is truly
8 commendable and who is most deserving of the 2018 Louisiana High School Student of the
9 Year Award.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
11 commend Sunjay Letchuman upon his selection as the 2018 High School Student of the Year
12 by the Louisiana Department of Education; does hereby recognize his singular contributions
13 to the betterment of his school, community, and state; and does hereby extend to him
14 enduring appreciation for the tremendous pride and honor that he brings to his family,
15 friends, the city of Shreveport, and the state of Louisiana.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby wish
17 for Sunjay continued success and happiness in all future endeavors.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
19 Sunjay Letchuman, Michael Ilgenfritz, principal of Caddo Magnet High School, and
20 Dr. T. Lamar Goree, superintendent of Caddo Parish Public Schools.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 94 Original 2018 Regular Session Peacock
Commends Sunjay Letchuman upon his selection as Louisiana High School Student of the
Year.
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