MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Senator(s) Boyd Senate Resolution 113 (As Adopted by Senate) A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING SOUTH PANOLA HIGH SCHOOL OUTSTANDING SENIOR GABRIELLA RUSSO UPON HER RECEIPT OF THE JOURNALISM EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S "MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR" AWARD. WHEREAS, this year's "Mississippi High School Journalist of the Year" is Gabriella Russo, Co-Executive Producer of Tiger TV Media Group at South Panola High School; and WHEREAS, Gabriella is a senior at South Panola High School and serves as the Tiger TV Co-Executive Producer, Captain of the South Panola High School's Cross Country and Track Team, Student Council Senior Class Representative, and much more; and WHEREAS, "From the moment she joined, she set herself apart with her relentless drive, creativity, and professionalism," Media Adviser Dustin Cockrell said. "Whether covering school events, producing in-depth reports, or leading her peers, she always pursued excellence. She is, without a doubt, the best journalist I have ever taught"; and WHEREAS, Dustin Cockrell stepped in as the new Media Adviser for Tiger TV during Russo's sophomore year. Since then, the program has seen exponential growth. "We've kind of built this program from the ground up," Russo said. "My sophomore year, only 30 of us interviewed and for the past two years we've had over 150 applications each year"; and WHEREAS, Russo will now advance to the national level of the Journalism Education Association's "High School Journalist of the Year" competition, where she will compete for up to $3,000.00 in scholarship award money. As Mississippi's top scholastic journalist, she will also headline a select group of yet-to-be-announced All-Mississippi honorees at MSPA's statewide convention on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the University of Mississippi; and WHEREAS, "I was really shocked, excited, and honored to win such an award," Russo said. "This is also a big accomplishment for our entire school. It's the first time in South Panola history that anybody has won an award at MSPA"; and WHEREAS, Gabriella is currently planning to attend Mississippi State University to study Biological Sciences with a pre-med concentration. She plans to become an orthopedic doctor to continue helping others. "Journalism has played such an important part of my high school education. It has taught me important leadership, communication, and people skills that I'll use for the rest of my life. Journalism has ignited a spark in me that I never knew I needed, and I can't wait to see where it takes me next," Russo said; and WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize an outstanding Mississippi student who has brought honor to her school, her community, and to the State of Mississippi: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate South Panola High School Outstanding Senior Gabriella Russo upon her receipt of the Journalism Education Association's "Mississippi High School Journalist of the Year" Award, and we extend our best wishes in her journalism and academic endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Gabriella Russo, her class advisors, forwarded to South Panola Principal Jason Matthews and the South Panola School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Boyd
# Senate Resolution 113
## (As Adopted by Senate)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING SOUTH PANOLA HIGH SCHOOL OUTSTANDING SENIOR GABRIELLA RUSSO UPON HER RECEIPT OF THE JOURNALISM EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S "MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR" AWARD.
WHEREAS, this year's "Mississippi High School Journalist of the Year" is Gabriella Russo, Co-Executive Producer of Tiger TV Media Group at South Panola High School; and
WHEREAS, Gabriella is a senior at South Panola High School and serves as the Tiger TV Co-Executive Producer, Captain of the South Panola High School's Cross Country and Track Team, Student Council Senior Class Representative, and much more; and
WHEREAS, "From the moment she joined, she set herself apart with her relentless drive, creativity, and professionalism," Media Adviser Dustin Cockrell said. "Whether covering school events, producing in-depth reports, or leading her peers, she always pursued excellence. She is, without a doubt, the best journalist I have ever taught"; and
WHEREAS, Dustin Cockrell stepped in as the new Media Adviser for Tiger TV during Russo's sophomore year. Since then, the program has seen exponential growth. "We've kind of built this program from the ground up," Russo said. "My sophomore year, only 30 of us interviewed and for the past two years we've had over 150 applications each year"; and
WHEREAS, Russo will now advance to the national level of the Journalism Education Association's "High School Journalist of the Year" competition, where she will compete for up to $3,000.00 in scholarship award money. As Mississippi's top scholastic journalist, she will also headline a select group of yet-to-be-announced All-Mississippi honorees at MSPA's statewide convention on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the University of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, "I was really shocked, excited, and honored to win such an award," Russo said. "This is also a big accomplishment for our entire school. It's the first time in South Panola history that anybody has won an award at MSPA"; and
WHEREAS, Gabriella is currently planning to attend Mississippi State University to study Biological Sciences with a pre-med concentration. She plans to become an orthopedic doctor to continue helping others. "Journalism has played such an important part of my high school education. It has taught me important leadership, communication, and people skills that I'll use for the rest of my life. Journalism has ignited a spark in me that I never knew I needed, and I can't wait to see where it takes me next," Russo said; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize an outstanding Mississippi student who has brought honor to her school, her community, and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate South Panola High School Outstanding Senior Gabriella Russo upon her receipt of the Journalism Education Association's "Mississippi High School Journalist of the Year" Award, and we extend our best wishes in her journalism and academic endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Gabriella Russo, her class advisors, forwarded to South Panola Principal Jason Matthews and the South Panola School Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.