SR 88

SR88 192618-1 By Senator Smitherman RFD: First Read: 06-MAR-18 192618-1:n:03/02/2018:JEC/jec LSA2018-1167 RECOGNIZING THE ALABAMA SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY. WHEREAS, the Alabama School of Fine Arts is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of serving the great State of Alabama and educating its students with distinction; and WHEREAS, the Alabama School of Fine Arts traces its humble beginnings to Governor Lurleen Wallace's decision to provide special funding to the community arts leaders in Birmingham to support after-school instructional art programs during the 1967-1968 school year; and WHEREAS, Representative J.T. "Jabo" Waggoner was instrumental in supporting this novel approach to fine arts education and championed sponsorship and passage of legislation that transitioned the successful after-school program to a full-time school thus establishing the Alabama School of Fine Arts in 1972; and WHEREAS, the Alabama School of Fine Arts provides a special opportunity for talented and passionate students in grades 7 through 12 from across the state to immerse themselves in a unique educational experience in six speciality disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Mathematics, Science, Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts; and WHEREAS, the Alabama School of Fine Arts, widely referred to as ASFA, is Alabama's only state public middle and high school blending fine arts with math and science education; and WHEREAS, ASFA equips students with intensive professional inter-discipline study while also providing the core academic courses necessary to earn an Alabama high school diploma; and WHEREAS, ASFA's 2017 class of 70 seniors earned an average ACT score of 26.8, were awarded $13 million in merit scholarships averaging almost $200,000 each, and were accepted at 124 colleges, universities, art schools, and conservatories; and WHEREAS, these accomplishments are generally representative of each Alabama School of Fine Arts graduating class; and WHEREAS, ASFA students routinely achieve and are recognized as Presidential Scholars, National Merit Scholars, National Achievement Scholars, Intel International Science and Engineering Finalists, YoungArts winners, and Scholastic Art and Writing Awards gold medalists; and WHEREAS, ASFA student accomplishments include performances with the National Youth Orchestra, competing in the American Computer Science League All-Star International competition, spending summers at Dance Theatre of Harlem and American Ballet Theatre, having artwork professionally commissioned, starring in major television shows, and publishing entire books all while attending ASFA fulltime; and WHEREAS, alumni of the Alabama School of Fine Arts have received global recognition, fame, and industry awards, won Emmy Awards, authored The Hunger Games trilogy, served as NASA engineers and editors of national publications, had the honor of their work being prominently displayed in museums, are Billboard music artists, renowned teachers, dance company founders, television writers, film producers, and CEOs of successful businesses and world-changing and community serving nonprofits; and WHEREAS, over the course of its 50-year history, the Alabama School of Fine Arts has positively impacted countless students, alumni, faculty, and staff and have enriched, empowered, enlightened, and advanced the state by educating these individuals who have shared their special God-given talents through the arts, sciences, and community service and commerce; and WHEREAS, the Alabama School of Fine Arts is a state treasure and example of the state's enduring commitment to educational excellence; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, That we hereby recognize and celebrate the legacy of the Alabama School of Fine Arts for its 50 years of extraordinary service and educational excellence to the State of Alabama and its students.