By: Sibley S.R. No. 791 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-3 recognize Rena Michelle Stephens of Hamilton who has recently been 1-4 named one of the nine recipients of the 1995 Governor's Award for 1-5 Outstanding Volunteer Service; and 1-6 WHEREAS, This is an annual award given in recognition of 1-7 exceptional volunteer service; the honor is even greater because 1-8 over 240 nominations were made from all over the state, and a blue 1-9 ribbon panel of judges selected by the Governor made the final 1-10 selection; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Rena Michelle Stephens is an outstanding teenager 1-12 who has organized several community groups into fund-raising 1-13 activities; she has been recognized by her 4-H group for her 1-14 volunteer achievements and has been the recipient of the group's 1-15 highest local and state awards, including the Danforth, Citizenship, 1-16 and Community Service awards; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The Hamilton Child Welfare Board was penniless, 1-18 ineffective, and unable to respond to the routine needs of the 1-19 children in its care; this dynamic teenager organized a 1950s 1-20 dance, antique car show, and hamburger cookout that raised over 1-21 $1,500 in a single night; she increased the awareness in her 1-22 community of the need for a more viable Child Welfare Board, and 1-23 she inspired a number of unrelated groups to come together for a 2-1 common cause; and 2-2 WHEREAS, The 1994 valedictorian of her high school, 2-3 Rena Michelle has positively affected numerous organizations with 2-4 her contagious energy; she has devoted time to organizing blood 2-5 drives, working with the Special Olympics, cleaning highway 2-6 rights-of-way with her local chapter of the National Honor Society, 2-7 and being an active and vocal member of Students Against Drunk 2-8 Driving; and 2-9 WHEREAS, When the Sherwood Myrtle Foster Home needed funds, 2-10 she organized a Christmas beauty pageant for preschool-aged 2-11 children, requiring that they be sponsored by local businesses; 2-12 the pageant earned over $3,000 for the foster home; and 2-13 WHEREAS, She has volunteered through her church and served 2-14 her community as its Festival Queen, appearing on television and 2-15 radio to promote Hamilton; she has given many public speeches 2-16 advocating the needs of children and the elderly; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Perhaps her most notable contribution has been her 2-18 ability to motivate different groups into action and her talent 2-19 for eliciting the kind of positive response that is available in 2-20 a community and often goes untapped; through her efforts a large 2-21 number of children and other citizens in the community have greatly 2-22 benefitted; certainly her work is worthy of legislative recognition; 2-23 now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-25 74th Legislature, hereby commend Rena Michelle Stephens and 3-1 congratulate her on winning her well-deserved award; and, be it 3-2 further 3-3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her 3-4 as an expression of the highest esteem of the Texas Senate. 3-5 ______________________________________ 3-6 President of the Senate 3-7 I hereby certify that the above 3-8 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-9 on April 25, 1995. 3-10 ______________________________________ 3-11 Secretary of the Senate 3-12 ______________________________________ 3-13 Member, Texas Senate