Honoring and recognizing the achievement of Andrew Wallace of the Andrew Hamilton School in West Philadelphia for taking First Place at the 2006 Philadelphia Tribune Scripps Howard Regional Spelling Bee Competition.

WHEREAS, For more than ten years the

Philadelphia Tribune

along with Independence Blue Cross have joined forces as host and sponsor of the Tribune Scripps Howard Regional Spelling Bee Competition; and

WHEREAS, This year’s regional competition took place in March, at the Philadelphia School District Headquarters and included more than sixty competitors from public, private, parochial, charter and home-school environments; and

WHEREAS, 14 year-old eighth-grader, Andrew Wallace, from the Andrew Hamilton School in West Philadelphia won the regional competition and became the first male champion in nearly a decade; and

WHEREAS, Andrew will compete against other regional spelling bee winners at the 79th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. to be held May 31, 2006, through June 1, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Andrew Wallace contributes to the betterment of the West Philadelphia community and the City of Philadelphia as a student who excels academically; and

WHEREAS, Students in the School District of Philadelphia serve as role models for each other; and

WHEREAS, We want to encourage Andrew to keep up the good work; and

WHEREAS, We want Andrew to know that the City of Philadelphia is proud of his achievement and that we offer our profound support as he competes for the national spelling bee title in our nation’s capital; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we honor and recognize the Achievement of Andrew Wallace of the Andrew Hamilton School in West Philadelphia for taking First Place at the 2006 Philadelphia Tribune Scripps Howard Regional Spelling Bee Competition.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be prepared as an expression of this body's sincere congratulations to Andrew Wallace.

End