H*5113 Concurrent Resolution, By Lucas and Neilson
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE AARON ARD OF DARLINGTON ON RECEIVING
 HIS DOCTORATE IN STATISTICS FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NEW YORK, AND TO
 COMMEND HIM FOR ACHIEVING THIS ACADEMIC PINNACLE THROUGH PERSEVERANCE AND HARD
 WORK DESPITE FACING ADVERSE SITUATIONS WHICH MIGHT HAVE DAUNTED A LESS
 DETERMINED PERSON.

   05/23/00  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-42
   05/24/00  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-12

TO CONGRATULATE AARON ARD OF DARLINGTON ON RECEIVING HIS DOCTORATE IN STATISTICS FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NEW YORK, AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR ACHIEVING THIS ACADEMIC PINNACLE THROUGH PERSEVERANCE AND HARD WORK DESPITE FACING ADVERSE SITUATIONS WHICH MIGHT HAVE DAUNTED A LESS DETERMINED PERSON.

Whereas, Aaron Ard is a native of Darlington, South Carolina, who has been on an educational odyssey for over twenty years which has now culminated in his achieving, on May 1, the ultimate academic credential - a Doctorate of Philosophy; and

Whereas, Dr. Ard's odyssey began as a young teenager when, because of family and personal reasons, he dropped out of high school at fifteen and worked construction jobs for two years. He joined the Navy in 1980, scored high on aptitude tests and was sent to aviation electronics school. One of Dr. Ard's heroes was the late Elliott Williams of Darlington, the most decorated enlisted man in the Navy's history. Williams was a member of the Navy's special boats unit; and

Whereas, being selected to join this special unit became a burning ambition of Aaron Ard and, after arduous physical and mental effort, he achieved the goal of qualifying as a member of the special boat and warfare units; and

Whereas, before he left the Navy in 1984, Aaron Ard had completed his GED, the equivalent of a high school diploma. He returned to South Carolina, married Lori Patterson of Hartsville, and was employed in various law enforcement jobs for the next ten years; and

Whereas, in 1994 Aaron applied for a position he desired greatly, but a person with a college degree was hired. This disappointment and his ambition propelled him back to school for his undergraduate college degree. Simultaneously, he attended day classes at Florence-Darlington Technical College and evening and weekend classes in Charleston through a satellite program offered by Southern Illinois University. He finished both programs in record time and contemplated graduate school; and

Whereas, with encouragement from an instructor at Florence-Darlington Tech, Aaron Ard applied to Cornell University for graduate studies. He completed a master's degree in public administration and a doctorate in statistics. His mentor at Cornell University, Dr. Arch Dotson, praised Aaron's character, determination, and courage, and stated "he has a great intellect to go along with his savviness. He is people smart, place smart, and remarkably ambitious"; and

Whereas, Florence-Darlington Tech's public relations department believes that Dr. Ard is the first ever Florence-Darlington Tech graduate to earn a doctorate from an Ivy League School. The college showed their pride in their graduate's accomplishments by inviting Dr. Ard to give the commencement address to the largest graduating class in the college's history on May 16; and

Whereas, Aaron's family and especially his devoted wife, Lori, have been of tremendous support and encouragement to him as he made this long odyssey. In fact, Lori Ard graduated with a master's in rural development from Cornell this month also. They have returned to South Carolina where Dr. Ard will join the faculty at Coastal Carolina University teaching business statistics and mathematics; and

Whereas, it is appropriate for members of the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations to honor this native son who has shown true determination and courage in meeting his goal of academic excellence. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly congratulate Aaron Ard of Darlington on receiving a doctorate in statistics from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and commend him for achieving this academic pinnacle through perseverance and hard work despite facing adverse situations which might have daunted a less determined person.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Dr. Aaron Ard.