Note: Bills that change current law do not show the amended text correctly below. Please view Original PDF to see amended sections:
SR 88 - Introduced - PDF
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.