A senate RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND commend Michele Welton, a music teacher In York School District 1, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER thirty-eight YEARS As an EXEMPLARY educator, AND TO WISH HER lasting success and pleasure in all her future undertakings.

Whereas,  it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina should pause in their deliberations to express their gratitude to Michele Welton for her significant contributions to music education in York School District 1 (YSD1) as she officially retires on June 3, 2023; and

Whereas, Ms. Welton grew up in Rock Hill and graduated from Northwestern High School.  She earned a bachelor's degree from Lee College and a master's degree from Winthrop University; and

Whereas, she has taught chorus, tone chimes, and general music for thirty-eight years in Chester and YSD1, and for the last seventeen years she has taught at York.  She sought to teach in YSD1 because choral music in York has always had high standards and emphasizes music literacy as the best way to teach young people how to become musicians; and

Whereas, Ms. Welton's musicians have received nine straight superiors at Carowinds Festival of Music, and her concert band has earned six straight superiors at Concert Band Performance Assessment (CPA) in on-stage performance and sight reading, as well as superior ratings at Music in the Parks and Time to Travel festivals; and

Whereas, she has adjudicated South Carolina All-State performances, conducted the Chesterfield County Honor Choir and the Lancaster County Middle School Honor Choir, and presented seminars at OEC and the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conference; and

Whereas, dedicated to her profession, Ms. Welton is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA); and

Whereas, sharing her musical gifts with the community, she has performed with White Rose Community Choir of York and Reprise of Rock Hill; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is pleased to offer best wishes to Michele Welton as she begins a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried tempo of the days ahead, and the members are grateful for the years of unparalleled dedication that she has devoted to music education in YSD1 and wish her much rewarding enjoyment in her well-earned retirement.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and commend Michele Welton, a music teacher in YSD1, upon the occasion of her retirement after thirty-eight years as an exemplary educator, and wish her lasting success and pleasure in all her future undertakings.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Michele Welton.

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