H.R. No. 1720
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The Community Historical Archaeology Project with
  Schools (CHAPS) program of The University of Texas Rio Grande
  Valley has received the 2020 Governor's Award for Historic
  Preservation; and
         WHEREAS, The state's most prestigious honor for historic
  preservation, the Governor's Award has been presented by the Texas
  Historical Commission since 1991 to individuals and organizations
  for outstanding efforts in preserving the cultural and historic
  resources of Texas; and
         WHEREAS, Established in 2009 by founding director
  Dr. Russell Skowronek, CHAPS brings scholars from UTRGV into area
  schools to train students from kindergarten through high school in
  the stewardship of natural resources and historical sites; the
  program helps create archaeologically and historically literate
  citizens while preparing them for continuing studies in science,
  technology, engineering, and mathematics; and
         WHEREAS, Under the direction of Dr. Walter Díaz, dean of the
  College of Liberal Arts, the program is currently led by associate
  director Dr. Christopher L. Miller of the Department of History,
  co-director Dr. Juan Gonzalez of the School of Earth,
  Environmental, and Marine Sciences, and project director Roseann
  Bacha-Garza of the Department of Anthropology, and it also utilizes
  the talents of UTRGV faculty from the biology, communication,
  education, and geology departments; in addition, it has forged
  beneficial partnerships with the National Park Service, the Museum
  of South Texas History, the Zapata County Museum of History, Revive
  Fort Ringgold, the Webb County Heritage Foundation, and the
  Historic Brownsville Museum; and
         WHEREAS, The program's traveling exhibits, War and Peace on
  the Rio Grande 1861-1867 and Discovering Fort Brown: The First
  Military Border Post in Texas, have been on display at museums and
  other sites from Laredo to Corpus Christi and have drawn more than
  40,000 visitors, and CHAPS and its faculty have been featured on
  many local, state, national, and international media broadcast
  outlets, including National Public Radio and the BBC World Service;
  and
         WHEREAS, In addition to the Governor's Award, the program has
  received the 2020 Mary Faye Barnes Award for Excellence in
  Community History Projects from the Texas Oral History Association;
  its earlier awards have included the Daniel G. Roberts Award for
  Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology from the Society for
  Historical Archaeology, the THC Award of Merit, and the
  Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions of
  Service to Texas Archeology from the Texas Archeological Society,
  among others; and
         WHEREAS, A unique and dynamic educational program, CHAPS has
  inspired countless young people to explore and engage with the rich
  history and natural wonders of this important region of the Lone
  Star State, and it is truly deserving of this notable accolade; now,
  therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby congratulate the Community Historical
  Archaeology Project with Schools on its receipt of the 2020
  Governor's Award for Historic Preservation and extend to all those
  associated with the program sincere best wishes for continued
  success; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for CHAPS as an expression of high regard by the Texas
  House of Representatives.
 
 
Lucio III Canales
 
Martinez Dominguez
 
Guerra Guillen
 
Longoria Muñoz, Jr.
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 1720 was adopted by the House on May
  29, 2021, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House