ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS
A RESOLUTION
No. 2019 -36
COMMENDING DESIREE DESOTO AS WAIʻANAE HIGH SCHOOL’S COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR HONORED IN WASHINGTON, D. C. DURING THE NATIONAL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR CEREMONY
WHEREAS, Desiree DeSoto, along with the five other School Counselor of the Year finalists, were honored in Washington, D.C., January 30 to February 1, 2019, and participated in a congressional briefing and met with their members of U. S. Congress; and
WHEREAS, Desiree DeSoto has been at Waiʻanae High School since 1996, serving as a school counselor for 12 years and is a 2015-2016 First Nations Futures Program fellow and a graduate of Whitworth University, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and Walden University; and
WHEREAS, a native of Mākaha and a member of Mākaha Hawaiian Civic Club, Desiree DeSoto has remained dedicated to supporting the unique challenges faced by the families in the community where she was born and raised; and
WHEREAS, Desiree DeSoto’s determination to help students envision their postsecondary future lead her to spearhead an important college-going partnership, and as an alumna of Whitworth College, she had a critical role in forming Waiʻanae to Whitworth ʻAuwai, a community partnership with Kamehameha Schools that provides the opportunity for 17 local high school students to attend Whitworth University on full scholarships including room and board, books, tuition and two round trip flights to and from Whitworth each school year; and
WHEREAS, Waiʻanae High School Vice Principal Ryan Oshita has described Desiree DeSoto as a champion for the fight for educational equity and opportunities for minorities, economically disadvantaged, first generation, special education, and Native Hawaiian students.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 60th Annual Convention in Lahaina, Maui, in the malama of Welehu and the rising of Lāʻau Pau, this 16th day of November 2019, commending Desiree DeSoto as Waiʻanae High School’s Counselor of the Year honored in Washington, D. C. during the National Counselor Of the Year Ceremony; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to State of Hawai‘i Department of Education, Wai‘anae High School, American School Counselor Association, as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate subject matter committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House subject matter committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of Welehu and the rising of Lāʻau Pau on the 16th day of November 2019, at the 60th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Lahaina, Maui.
Hailama V. K. K. Farden, President
