[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1101-E1102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING KENDRA HAYWOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2012

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable valedictorian, Ms. Kendra Haywood. Kendra is the daughter of 
Mr. Kenneth Haywood Sr. and Mrs. Jacklon Haywood and resides in Shelby, 
Mississippi. Kendra is a member of Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church 
where she serves as the Sunday School Secretary and volunteers with 
various auxiliaries in the church. She is a senior at Broad Street High 
School in Shelby, Mississippi and graduated on May 26, 2012.
  Kendra acknowledged early on that it would take self-discipline and 
motivation to achieve her academic goals. So during the last three 
semesters of high school, she participated in Coahoma Community College 
Dual Enrollment Program, which allowed her to take college courses 
while still in high school.
  Ms. Haywood is co-founder of Students Involved in Community Change 
(SICC), an organization that strives for both community and educational 
excellence. Students work with citizens in their community on 
beautification

[[Page E1102]]

projects, hosting weekly community discussions to address littering, 
drug use, gang activity and the importance of community involvement.
  Ms. Haywood's sense of obligation to improve her community and 
educational opportunities for others led her to tutor her peers after 
school. Her philosophy is, ``knowledge is power and the more you know 
the more power you have.'' She participates in various school 
activities including the Alpha Kappa Alpha Bolivar County Community 
Humanity Involvement Club, Coahoma Community College Tr-County 
Workforce Job Shadowing Program, and other civic organizations.
  After completing her Bachelor of Science degree, Kendra has plans to 
pursue a professional degree in Clinical Psychology at Colorado College 
in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ms. Haywood has expressed a desire to 
become part of Teach for America as a way of giving back to a rural 
community and inspiring youth, because Teach for America has had a 
profound impact in her education.
  Ms. Kendra Haywood has three siblings, Kenneth Jr., Darrius, and 
Jarvis. She says they, along with her parents, had a positive impact on 
her desire to reach for the stars in life.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Kendra 
Haywood as the valedictorian of Broad Street High School Class of 2012.

                          ____________________