IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating Ken Johnston, sponsor of William Chrisman High School's Association for Christian Excellence Club upon being recently chosen as Person of the Year by the Jackson County Inter-Agency Council.
Intro
RESOLUTION # 14017, February 11, 2002
INTRODUCED BY Terry Young, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, Ken Johnston, a teacher at William Chrisman High School and sponsor of the high school's Association for Christian Excellence (ACE) club, was recently chosen as Person of the Year by the Jackson County Inter-Agency Council; and,
WHEREAS, Michael Wilson, an Inter-Agency Board Member who nominated Ken for the award, said this year's award recipient was selected on the basis of contributions to the community; and,
WHEREAS, the ACE club provides students with an opportunity to connect with various community groups through volunteer service, with participants performing a variety of volunteer services including fundraising activities, alcohol and drug abuse education, peer mediation, and mentoring; and,
WHEREAS, under Ken's leadership, the ACE volunteer club has grown from approximately 20 members six years ago to over 400 members last year; and,
WHEREAS, Ken has transformed the ACE club from a peer mediation group which required a 3.2 Grade Point Average to a volunteer club with no GPA requirement, resulting in students logging over 11,000 volunteer hours last year, helping groups and individuals throughout the community; and,
WHEREAS, William Chrisman High School shows how much it values the volunteer program by offering an ACE school letter for students who meet volunteer goals; and,
WHEREAS, "We hope it gives them a feeling of belonging to something because there are a lot who aren't athletes or play in band and now they can connect with something at William Chrisman," Ken said in an Examiner news story on this award; and,
WHEREAS, William Chrisman High School Principal John Ruddy added, "Through [Ken's] his dedicated service, he demonstrates to students there is no higher calling than that of service to others;" and,
WHEREAS, Ken's accomplishments in his work with youth has earned him other accolades, including the Human Relations Award from the City of Independence in 2001; and,
WHEREAS, he started his professional preparation as a teacher and coach after graduating from William Chrisman High School in 1955, earning his Bachelor of Science Degree from Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, in 1965, and Masters Degree from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1991; and,
WHEREAS, he started teaching in 1965, including at William Chrisman Junior High School from 1977-1982, and he has taught at William Chrisman High School since 1982; and,
WHEREAS, "the unifying effects of ACE can be felt in the halls," said Mr. Ruddy. "I think with ACE he's given a home to a wide variety of kids;" and,
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Ken Johnston, the ACE club was very instrumental in the City of Independence being designated in 2001 as an All-America City; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, that the Legislature congratulates Ken Johnston, Peer Relations Coordinator for the Independence Public Schools and Sponsor of William Chrisman High School's ACE volunteer club, upon being recently chosen as Person of the Year by the Jackson County Inter-Agency Council.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ ________________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution # 14017 of February 11, 2002 of was duly passed on ___________February 11________________, 2001 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _______5__________ Nays ______0________
Abstaining _____0________ Absent ____4________
______________________ _________________________________
Date Mary Jo Brogoto, Clerk of Legislature