HR0140 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0140 LRB098 11276 GRL 42418 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the photography student chapter at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale for being selected as the recipient of the prestigious annual Outstanding NPPA Student Chapter Award by the highly-respected National Press Photographers Association; and

WHEREAS, The chapter's publication of the book "4:56 A.M. The Story of February 29, 2012 Tornado" was the central activity that formed the chapter's entry for consideration of the honor; and

WHEREAS, The 80-page volume was the work of 16 students and 3 faculty members and showcased an excellent photographic chronicle of the devastating impact the tornado had on many southern Illinois communities, including Harrisburg and Ridgeway; and

WHEREAS, The student achievements were also highlighted on the NPPA Virtual Student blog; and

WHEREAS, The project also served to spark an effort to speed the region's recovery through the sale of the book and the donation of more than $20,000 to several relief funds in the hard hit region; and

WHEREAS, One of the NPPA board members declared that the SIU chapter served as a national model for the organization's student chapters; and

WHEREAS, The organization also praised the chapter's outreach to photojournalists throughout the region with continuing education programs and other forms of community work; and

WHEREAS, The book is the sixth in a continuing series that provide an in-depth examination through words and photographs of many of the unique communities that dominate the region known as Southern Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we applaud the work of the Southern Illinois University - Carbondale students and faculty associated with the project and congratulate the group for being selected as the best student chapter in the United States by the National Press Photographers Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the photography student chapter at SIU - Carbondale as an expression of our respect and esteem.