Virginia 2025 Regular Session

Virginia House Bill HJR568 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		2025 SESSION
2	2
3		-	ENROLLED
	3	+	INTRODUCED
	4	+
	5	+	25103877D
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5	7		HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 568
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	9	+	Offered January 31, 2025
	10	+
7	11		Celebrating the life of Louis Peter Kokonis.
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9		-	Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 10, 2025
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11		-	Agreed to by the Senate, February 13, 2025
	14	+
	15	+	PatronsBennett-Parker; Senator: Ebbin
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15	19		WHEREAS, Louis Peter Kokonis, a legendary mathematics educator at Alexandria City High School and a beloved member of the Alexandria community, died on January 4, 2024; and
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17	21		WHEREAS, a native of Washington, D.C., Louis Kokonis graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School then served his country with honor and integrity as a member of the United States Army for two years; and
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19	23		WHEREAS, following his service, Louis Kokonis pursued a lifelong dream to teach by earning a degree from the former District of Columbia Teachers College; over the years, he would hone his abilities as an educator by acquiring three master's degrees; and
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21		-	WHEREAS, in 1959, the same year Alaska and Hawaii became states, Louis Kokonis joined Alexandria City Public Schools as a teacher at the former Francis C. Hammond High School; and
	25	+	WHEREAS, in 1959, the same year Alaska and Hawaii became part of the United States, Louis Kokonis joined Alexandria City Public Schools as a teacher at the former Francis C. Hammond High School; and
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23	27		WHEREAS, Louis Kokonis joined the faculty of what is now Alexandria City High School (ACHS) shortly thereafter and went on to teach at the school for more than six decades, educating nearly 7,000 students over his career between his algebra, calculus, and geometry classes; and
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25	29		WHEREAS, Louis Kokonis embodied the highest virtues of the education profession through his unparalleled commitment to his students' success, being the first to arrive every day before school and offering free tutoring to students both after school and on Saturdays; and
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27	31		WHEREAS, with his kind and quiet demeanor, Louis Kokonis cultivated a learning environment in his classes that engaged his students and fostered their confidence in facing challenges, giving many the skills they needed to go on to become leaders in their respective fields; and
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29	33		WHEREAS, the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria established the Louis Kokonis Teachers' Legend Scholarship in 2018 to honor his outsized impact on the ACHS community; and
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31	35		WHEREAS, in the rare moments when he was not teaching or mentoring his students, Louis Kokonis enjoyed traveling in the western United States with family and taking photographs in the outdoors; and
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33	37		WHEREAS, preceded in death by his sister, Matina, Louis Kokonis will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his brother, Nicholas, and his family and by numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
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35	39		RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Louis Peter Kokonis, a cherished member of the Alexandria community whose kindness, generosity, and dedication to teaching impacted countless lives; and, be it
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37	41		RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Louis Peter Kokonis as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.