H.R. No. 658
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  Sam Riklin and the Downtown Rotary Club of San Antonio for their
    1-3  sponsorship of the Diploma Plus scholarship project, a unique
    1-4  program that has proven to be extremely effective in addressing the
    1-5  high school dropout rate; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Conceived by Mr. Riklin, the Diploma Plus project
    1-7  aims to prevent students who are otherwise succeeding at their
    1-8  studies from dropping out of school because of family financial
    1-9  hardship; since 1990, this innovative program has provided hundreds
   1-10  of San Antonio high school students with the financial assistance
   1-11  they required to finish school; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Financially eligible students who have demonstrated
   1-13  a commitment to their education may apply for the $500 scholarship
   1-14  that is distributed over the course of nine months during the
   1-15  students' senior year of high school in increments of $50, with an
   1-16  additional payment of $50 made to students following their
   1-17  graduation; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, The generous support of Downtown Rotary Club
   1-19  members, corporate contributors, and Mr. Riklin have enabled
   1-20  organizers to meet their original goal of providing 600 senior-year
   1-21  scholarships to local high school students during a three-year
   1-22  period; because the club and Mr. Riklin absorb all administrative
   1-23  costs, 100 percent of each dollar raised goes to these deserving
   1-24  students; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Joining in this worthwhile effort is The University
    2-2  of Texas at San Antonio, which recently approved 200 fully paid
    2-3  freshman year scholarships to college-bound Diploma Plus graduates
    2-4  to be awarded over the next three years; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Recognized as the largest anti-dropout program
    2-6  sponsored by a civic club in America, Diploma Plus has received
    2-7  praise from many prominent local and national leaders, including
    2-8  Governor Ann Richards and President George Bush; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, The many sponsors of this excellent scholarship
   2-10  program have certainly benefitted their community and our state by
   2-11  helping high school students stay in school, and their outstanding
   2-12  efforts in this regard are indeed deserving of special legislative
   2-13  recognition; now, therefore, be it
   2-14        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-15  Legislature hereby commend the Downtown Rotary Club of San Antonio,
   2-16  Sam Riklin, and the corporate contributors to Diploma Plus, for
   2-17  their sponsorship of this excellent program; and, be it further
   2-18        RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
   2-19  for the sponsors of Diploma Plus as an expression of high regard by
   2-20  the Texas House of Representatives.
   2-21  the Texas House of Representatives.
   2-22                                                         Van de Putte
   2-23                                                      H.R. No. 658
   2-24                                      _______________________________
   2-25                                            Speaker of the House
   2-26        I certify that H.R. No. 658 was adopted by the House on May
   2-27  7, 1993, by a non-record vote.
    3-1                                      _______________________________
    3-2                                          Chief Clerk of the House