H*5405 Resolution, By Cotty, Lourie, Howard and Scott
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE AWARD WINNING E. L. WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL OF
 RICHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO, COLUMBIA, ON THE OCCASION OF ITS FORTIETH
 ANNIVERSARY, AND CONGRATULATE THE STUDENTS, PARENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF FOR
 THEIR FORTY-YEAR TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AS E. L. WRIGHT CONTINUES ITS
 TRADITION OF EDUCATING AND BUILDING SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS FOR THE FUTURE.

   06/04/02  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-58

TO COMMEND THE AWARD WINNING E. L. WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL OF RICHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO, COLUMBIA, ON THE OCCASION OF ITS FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY, AND CONGRATULATE THE STUDENTS, PARENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF FOR THEIR FORTY-YEAR TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AS E. L. WRIGHT CONTINUES ITS TRADITION OF EDUCATING AND BUILDING SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS FOR THE FUTURE.

Whereas, this year marks the fortieth anniversary of Richland County School District Two's E. L. Wright Middle School, located at 2740 Alpine Road, Columbia. The school was named for Mr. Edward L. Wright who was Superintendent in Richland School District Two for twenty-four years; and

Whereas, resting on sixteen acres in Northeast Columbia, E. L. Wright Middle School opened its doors in 1962 as a junior high school with six hundred students in twenty classrooms. With the growth of the Columbia Northeast area, E. L. Wright's campus expanded with the addition of the 600 building and gymnasium in 1968 and the 700 building in 1973; and

Whereas, two of the original buildings, the 200 and 400 buildings, will be razed during the summer of 2002, to make room for a three story structure that will house fifty-four new classrooms and labs. The new facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2004; and

Whereas, there have been eleven principals overseeing E. L. Wright's growth and change over the past forty years. The first was C. Eben Young, (1962-63) followed by Cyril O. Havrid (1963-66); Leonard Gardiner (1966-67); Thomas Pettit (1967-70); Dr. Maxcey O'Tuel (1970-75); Fred W. Rogers (1975-85); Dr. Ann O'Quinn (1985-93); Roosevelt Garrick (1993-94); Dr. Chris Lempesis (1994-96); Nancy Gregory (1996-97); Dr. Michaele Lemrow (1997-present); and

Whereas, as a result of the outstanding leadership and dedication of the fine men and women who have served as principals and taught at E. L. Wright Middle School a tradition of excellence has been established that inures to the benefit of students, parents, faculty, and staff alike. Over the past forty years E. L. Wright Middle School has been the recipient of many awards for outstanding achievement in academics, art, music, technology, and sports. Among these include recognition as a Blue Ribbon School and Palmetto's Finest; and

Whereas, the 2001-2002 school year has been a particularly significant year for the school as accolades continued to amass including: Richland Two Distinguished School, Palmetto's Finest finalist, Exemplary Writing designation, Award of Excellence for Democratic Governance Award, and Red Carpet School designation; and

Whereas, the forty-year tradition of excellence continues as E. L. Wright continues its tradition of building successful citizens for the future. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend the award winning E. L. Wright Middle School of Richland County School District Two, Columbia, on the occasion of its fortieth anniversary, and congratulate the students, parents, faculty, and staff for their forty-year tradition of excellence as E. L. Wright continues its tradition of educating and building successful citizens for the future.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to E. L. Wright Middle School, Columbia.