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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing Barrington Irving on his

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attaining two world records in aviation.

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     WHEREAS, on March 23, 2007, Barrington Irving, a 23-year-old

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senior majoring in aeronautical studies at Florida Memorial

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University, climbed into a single-engine Columbia 400 aircraft

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called "Inspiration" and embarked on a 26,800-mile, round-the-

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world flight, and

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     WHEREAS, when he returned to Miami on June 27th, he was

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celebrated for setting two world records - he is the first person

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of African descent and the youngest person ever to fly solo

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around the globe, and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Irving traversed four continents, clocking more

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than 130 hours of flight time on a 97-day "World Flight

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Adventure" that included landings in the Azores, Spain, Greece,

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Egypt, Dubai, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan, and

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     WHEREAS, born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in inner-city

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Miami, Mr. Irving is a graduate of Miami-Dade County Public

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Schools and is a Mentor in the 5000 Role Models of Excellence

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Project, and

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     WHEREAS, while a student at Florida Memorial University, Mr.

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Irving earned Private and Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor

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licenses as well as his Instrument Rating and, in 2005, he

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founded a nonprofit organization, Experience Aviation, Inc., to

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address the significant shortage of youth pursuing careers in

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Aviation and Aerospace, and

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     WHEREAS, supported by a $10,000 grant from the Miami Dade

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Empowerment Trust, Barrington Irving offered guidance and

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training to young people in South Florida through a program that

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included flying touring planes and learning how to use a flight

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simulator and he received an additional commitment of $75,000 to

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expand the program and reach more youth in the community, and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Irving used these funds to set up what he hopes

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will be the first of many Experience Aviation Learning Centers at

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Miami's Opa-locka Executive Airport using donated computers and

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Microsoft Flight Simulator software, and

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     WHEREAS, Barrington Irving's successful endeavors in

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aviation and his dedication to making aviation education and

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training available to many young people are magnificent

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accomplishments and represent an energy and a vision that inspire

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us all, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Senate congratulates and applauds Barrington Irving

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and recognizes this 16th day of April, 2008, as "Barrington

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Irving Day" in the State of Florida.

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with

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the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Barrington Irving

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as a tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.