S*1521 Resolution, By Leatherman, Courson and O'Dell
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE MR. CRAIG H. PARKS UPON RECEIVING WOFFORD
 COLLEGE'S 2010 YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD.

   06/15/10  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-53

TO CONGRATULATE MR. CRAIG H. PARKS UPON RECEIVING WOFFORD COLLEGE'S 2010 YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD.

Whereas, the members of the Senate are pleased to learn that Mr. Craig H. Parks, Senior Research Analyst for the Senate Finance Committee, has been distinguished as the 2010 Wofford College "Young Alumnus of the Year"; and

Whereas, Wofford College bestows the award annually to an alumnus based on current achievements and promise for future service to humanity; and

Whereas, Craig recently celebrated ten years of public service to the citizens of South Carolina, a career founded, in part, on a Wofford education known not just for its ability to prepare students for personal achievement, but for a life of service to others; and

Whereas, while at Wofford, Craig balanced academic success with community involvement where he was a member and officer in Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, the Presbyterian Student Association, and as a youth group leader at a local church, among others; and

Whereas, without question, Craig's best Wofford experience was meeting the love of his life, Amy, also a Wofford graduate who also holds additional degrees from Johns Hopkins and the University of South Carolina; and

Whereas, Craig and his wife Amy just celebrated ten years of marriage and are the proud parents of two beautiful children, and future Terriers, Anna Grace and Coleman; and

Whereas, Craig received his B.A. in Government from Wofford in 1997, graduating cum laude, and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina in 1999, graduating in the top of his class; and

Whereas, Craig's academic success has translated into a successful career of public service, during which time he has served as Assistant Public Policy Liaison for the South Carolina Chapter of Mothers' Against Drunk Driving, as a Labor Market Analyst for the Employment Security Commission; and

Whereas, following the Employment Security Commission, Craig worked with the Board of Economic Advisors (BEA), as a Fiscal Policy Analyst in the Office of Economic Research, where he provided pertinent analysis of issues of major importance to the state for use by the BEA, the state's Chief Economist, and members of the General Assembly, including offering technical expertise and testimony to House and Senate committees on a variety of economic matters; and

Whereas, it was with that experience, coupled with his prior public service, that Craig came to the Senate, where he now serves the Senate Finance Committee as lead analyst for state tax policy and in that capacity also serves as staff to the South Carolina Tax Realignment Commission, as well as the Committee's Sr. Budget Analyst for the state's institutions of higher learning; and

Whereas, in both capacities, Craig serves as a vital resource to Senate members in the analysis and development of key pieces of legislation in the areas tax policy, economic development, and, in budget matters, higher education policy and funding issues; and

Whereas, Craig has developed a stellar reputation for his analytic capabilities, but also for his work ethic, courteousness, professionalism, and forthrightness, all traits to be equally applauded; and

Whereas, in keeping with life lessons learned at Wofford, Craig's service is not limited to his vocation, rather, it extends to the community as well; and

Whereas, Craig is a member of Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, where he serves on the Board of Trustees, is past Chairman of the Diaconate, coordinated the capital campaign for the church's recent restoration and renovation project, and where he teaches an adult Sunday School class; and

Whereas, Craig is an active member of Gideon's International, the country's oldest Christian business and professional men's association, a ministry in which he most enjoys opportunities to share the ministry with local congregations, partnering with those churches to raise funds for scripture distributions worldwide; and

Whereas, Craig is an avid, but all too infrequent golfer, unless his beloved wife and children are out of town; and

Whereas, according to both friends and innocent bystanders alike, Craig's golf game often translates into an apparent love of the state's abundant natural resources, evidenced by the amount of time he spends off the course searching for his golf ball among the trees, on the sand, or in the water; and

Whereas, it is fitting and proper for the members of the Senate to briefly pause in their deliberations to recognize the wonderful work of this excellent Senate staffer and fine South Carolinian. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Mr. Craig H. Parks upon receiving Wofford College's 2010 Young Alumnus of the Year Award.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Craig Parks.