ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 19
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAMBURG
A RESOLUTION
To commend Sonja Bailes on her selection as a 2024 Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential
Woman by Holy Angels.
WHEREAS, Sonja Bailes is one of six honorees who were selected as 2024 Virginia
K. Shehee Most Influential Woman; the award honors women who have made significant
contributions by providing their expertise, time, and resources to serve their community; the
women selected have shown a commitment to philanthropy by helping children, the elderly,
those in need, the arts, business development, education, or other acts of caring through
unpaid positions; and
WHEREAS, Sonja graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1992 with a
journalism degree; she spent twenty years in broadcast news at KNOE-TV in Monroe and
KTBS-3 in Shreveport; Ms. Bailes left broadcast news twelve years ago to become the
public relations liaison at Bossier Schools; she is passionate about elevating the voice of
those serving as educators; Sonja finds purpose in mentoring young adults to be the best
versions of themselves; and
WHEREAS, aside from her professional accomplishments, Sonja is actively involved
in community service and dedicates much of her spare time to nonprofit organizations; she
volunteers with the Commission for Women of Bossier City, for which she cochairs the
mentorship program, serves on the board for Dress for Success Shreveport-Bossier, and
works closely with Bossier Youth Leadership; and
WHEREAS, Sonja serves as vice president of The Salvation Army's advisory board
and the Bossier Parish Community College Foundation; she is an advisory board member
with SciPort Discovery Center and Keep Bossier Beautiful; and
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WHEREAS, Sonja's professional engagement includes membership in the National
School Public Relations Association, the Shreveport Journalism Foundation, the Northwest
Louisiana chapter of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana, and the Bossier Optimist
Club; and
WHEREAS, Sonja Bailes is most deserving of the highest recognition for her
incredible accomplishments and for her unrelenting dedication to the service of her
community.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Sonja Bailes on her selection as a 2024
Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman by Holy Angels and does hereby further
recognize Sonja's commitment to providing her expertise, time, and resources to serve her
community and the state of Louisiana.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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