TITLE: Congratulating Sarah Jo Lambert on her selection as a 2011 YWCA of Lubbock Woman of Excellence.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Sarah Jo Lambert on her selection as a 2011 YWCA of Lubbock Woman of Excellence.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Sarah Jo Lambert was recognized with a 2011 Woman of Excellence award from the YWCA of Lubbock for her achievements in the field of youth leadership; and WHEREAS, An annual project that has honored 185 individuals since 1989, the YWCA Women of Excellence awards are given to women leaders whose contributions to business, industry, and area associations are crucial to the success of those organizations and the Lubbock community; the awards program is in keeping with the YWCA's goal to empower women and their families and to establish strong role models for the next generation of South Plains women; and WHEREAS, Sarah Jo Lambert is a senior at Lubbock High School who decided in 2007 to fulfill Girl Scout award requirements by completing a project that would also teach children about conservation; two years of hard work, fund-raising, and collaboration followed, and her creation, an environmental center at the Rio Blanco Girl Scout camp in Crosbyton, opened in 2009; named the Lorax Lodge for her favorite Dr. Seuss book, the 800-square-foot center is carbon-neutral and made completely from earth-friendly and recycled materials, and a nature trail and curriculum guide complement its message of sustainability; Ms. Lambert raised more than $235,000 in contributions and in-kind donations to build the center and enlisted the help of more than 2,200 volunteers, including Texas Tech University students, two structural engineers, and a landscape architect; and WHEREAS, The Lorax Lodge has been selected as a model for sustainable construction to be used by students in the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math program at Texas Tech, and Ms. Lambert has been recognized with many honors for her achievements, including the President's Environmental Youth Award, the Texas Environmental Excellence Award, the Girl Scouts of America Gold Award, and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes; in addition, she was named to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Class of 2011; and WHEREAS, Ms. Lambert's interests also extend to other important areas of concern; she helped to initiate a campaign adopted by numerous Girl Scout troops in which dolls were made and sent to children in Iraq as a symbol of international friendship, and seeking to encourage physical fitness among local elementary school children, she solicited donations used to purchase volleyball equipment for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lubbock; moreover, she has volunteered for six years with Meals on Wheels; and WHEREAS, This remarkable young Texan is the social chair of her school's University Interscholastic League speech and debate team and the editor in chief of her school's yearbook, as well as a regional delegate for the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains Council; she plans to study journalism and political science in college and to one day work in environmental journalism; in all of her endeavors, she is supported by her loving parents, Dr. Matthew Lambert and Maureen Lambert, and her brother, Matthew Lambert, Jr.; and WHEREAS, Inspiring others with her notable accomplishments, Sarah Jo Lambert stands at the forefront of those individuals who are making a positive difference in their communities, and she is indeed deserving of this prestigious honor; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby congratulate Sarah Jo Lambert on her selection as a 2011 YWCA of Lubbock Woman of Excellence and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Lambert as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. Frullo Perry President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 112 was adopted by the House on April 21, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 112 was adopted by the Senate on May 3, 2011, by a viva-voce vote. Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: Date Governor