WHEREAS, ASPIRE, a female leadership program operated by the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office, helps young women develop the skills they need to achieve success in higher education and careers; and

WHEREAS, part of the Children Today Leaders Tomorrow initiative, founded by Sheriff Jim O'Sullivan, ASPIRE is a two-year program for selected 11th-grade students from Deep Creek High School, Grassfield High School, Great Bridge High School, Hickory High School, Indian River High School, Oscar Smith High School, and Western Branch High School; and

WHEREAS, ASPIRE, which stands for Attitude, Self-Esteem, Public Service, Integrity, Responsibility, and Empowerment, provides students with unique opportunities for personal development and workshops with prominent women leaders; and

WHEREAS, ASPIRE offers experience-based workshops on communication, self-defense, conflict resolution, problem solving, etiquette, local government, and useful certifications like first aid and CPR; and

WHEREAS, ASPIRE places special emphasis on college preparatory skills, such as public speaking, and participants receive a $1,000 college scholarship upon completion of the program; and

WHEREAS, ASPIRE also helps build strong relationships based on trust and mutual respect between young people and local law-enforcement officers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That ASPIRE hereby be commended for its work to inspire young women to become leaders; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for ASPIRE's contributions to the Chesapeake community.