OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
July 28,2011
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution concerning Yolandis McCaskill on being named Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago's 2011 Illinois Youth of the Year.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Mayor
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On July 18, 2011, Yolandis McCaskill, age 18, a resident ofthe city of Chicago's West Side, was named Regional Youth of the Year in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's annual Youth ofthe Year Competition; and
WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Tupperware Brands, Youth ofthe Year recognizes and promotes service to the Club, community and family, academic success, strong moral character, life goals, and poise and public speaking ability; and
WHEREAS, Each year, local Clubs recognize members between the ages of 14 to 18 as Youth of the Month winners and then select a Youth of the Year to represent the Club in statewide competitions. State winners each receive a $1,000 scholarship and a chance to participate in the regional competition; and
WHEREAS, Ms. McCaskill was recognized by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Club in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood, and then was selected as the state representative for Illinois because of her tremendous strength of character and relentless perseverance in the face of personal tragedy and societal obstacles; and
WHEREAS, Not only has Ms. McCaskill refused to succumb to today's ever-present dangers of drugs and violence associated with the urban environment, she also overcame significant tragedy in 2009 after surviving a near-fatal car crash during which she was thrown through the windshield; and
WHEREAS, After taking a semester off to recover from her injuries, she returned to high school with renewed focus and determination. She has participated in numerous extra-curricular activities, has worked part-time to help pay her family's bills, has volunteered at a local hospital and has helped her grandmother after she suffered a heart attack last year; and '
WHEREAS, In addition to winning a $10,000 scholarship, Ms. McCaskill will also have the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. in September, where she will be honored at a Congressional breakfast and meet President Barack Obama. She will also compete for the national Youth of the Year title and a $50,000 scholarship; and
WHEREAS, In addition to these achievements, Ms. McCaskill graduated in May as the valedictorian of Providence St. Mel High School with a 3.96 GPA, and this fall she will attend college at the University of Notre Dame, where she will study biomedical engineering; and
WHEREAS, All of Chicago is proud of Yolandis McCaskill for her well-deserved award as Regional Youth of the Year in Boys & Girls Clubs of America's annual Youth of the Year competition; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-eighth day of July, 2011, do hereby honor and congratulate Yolandis McCaskill for her accomplishments, and extend to her our best wishes for continued success; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Yolandis McCaskill as a token of our admiration and esteem.