SR0603 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0603 LRB098 14140 MST 48722 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jennifer Sinclair Arnold Smith of Champaign, who passed away on September 28, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Arnold Smith graduated from Champaign Central High School in 1995 and attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and the University of Illinois-Chicago to earn both her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in social work; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Arnold Smith spent almost 10 years working with students as an advisor and advocate at Parkland College in Champaign; she served as the Student Development Advocate to the Title II Director to the Student Services Advisor; she was instrumental in the Parkland Pathway to Illinois program and also envisioned and led the "It's a Parkland Thing" advertising campaign featuring local student-athletes; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Arnold Smith always had a passion for helping others; she volunteered on 6 different mission trips with the Appalachia Service Project and Operation Hogar, both through Faith United Methodist Church, where she was an active member; she donated over 789 ounces of breast milk to the International Breast Milk Project, which provides breast milk to critically ill infants around the world; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Arnold Smith shared her own personal struggle with breast cancer to educate others who might also be struggling with the same disease; she helped launch the Champaign-Urbana affiliate of the Young Survival Coalition, a national organization for young women facing breast cancer, and she was a member of its Leadership Council; she spoke at high schools, colleges, and national conferences, and she wrote a blog and 2 books and mentored many women one-on-one through Imerman Angels; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Arnold Smith received many awards and recognitions, including being named as a member of the "Central Illinois Business Magazine "40 Under 40", the "Illini Radio Group 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know", and "Chambana Moms to Know" and was inducted into the Parkland College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011; most recently she was named a 2013 Pink Power Mom; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Arnold Smith was preceded in death by her grandparents, Bob and Marcille Sinclair; her uncle, John Sinclair; her cousins, Leah Arnold and Dusty Schwendeman; and countless friends who were also diagnosed with breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Arnold Smith is survived by her son, Corbin; her parents, Fred and Nancy Arnold; her brother, Eric (Christy) Arnold; her sister, Sara (Noah) Hurst; her nephew, Jaxson Arnold; her extended family in Ohio; and countless friends throughout the United States; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Jennifer Sinclair Arnold Smith, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jennifer Arnold Smith as an expression of our deepest sympathy.