H.R. No. 590
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Since 1993, members of the EnviroKids program at
1-2 C. H. Daniels Intermediate School have helped to make Shelby County
1-3 and the State of Texas safer, cleaner, and more beautiful places in
1-4 which to live; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Composed of sixth-grade students in the school's
1-6 gifted and talented classes, the EnviroKids program has won
1-7 national and international acclaim for its innovative solutions to
1-8 our society's pressing environmental problems; in 1993, the group
1-9 implemented a successful community cleanup project in Shelby County
1-10 that was named the most outstanding effort of its kind in the State
1-11 of Texas; and
1-12 WHEREAS, In June 1994, members of this remarkable program
1-13 represented their state and nation at the International Future
1-14 Problem Solving Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they
1-15 placed fourth in the world; these fine young Texans also achieved a
1-16 third-place win in the Environmental Challenge, a competition
1-17 sponsored by the General Land Office; and
1-18 WHEREAS, This year's students, who are known as the
1-19 "EnviroKids II," have also received accolades for their efforts to
1-20 plant trees, promote recycling, prevent littering, clean up waste,
1-21 and promote environmental awareness in their community; recently,
1-22 they won first place in the State of Texas in Community Problem
1-23 Solving, and this summer they will travel to Providence, Rhode
1-24 Island, to participate in the Future Problem Solving Conference,
2-1 where they will meet with other students from around the world; and
2-2 WHEREAS, These outstanding sixth graders have also produced
2-3 educational videos and organized a countywide cleanup that resulted
2-4 in the collection of 750,000 pounds of trash in Shelby County; with
2-5 the help of 63 local volunteers, the students also replaced soil
2-6 that had eroded from their school campus and planted ground cover
2-7 to prevent future erosion; and
2-8 WHEREAS, In addition to these impressive local activities,
2-9 the group has worked in conjunction with the Texas Forest Service
2-10 to clean up an illegal dumpsite and has inspired law enforcement
2-11 officials throughout the county to crack down on individuals who
2-12 illegally dispose of trash; the EnviroKids II have also received a
2-13 grant from the Deep East Texas Council of Governments to construct
2-14 and operate a demonstration composting site; and
2-15 WHEREAS, In light of the EnviroKids program's many notable
2-16 accomplishments, it is indeed appropriate that special legislative
2-17 recognition be given to the program's sponsor, Fannie Watson; to
2-18 its founding members, Michael Bartle, Carly Collins, Tina Hartt,
2-19 Heather Hilliard, Christina Jackson, Karen Magness, Haley Snider,
2-20 Russell Sowell, Mark Tidwell, Karen Wilkins, Erik Williams, and
2-21 Anna Joy Windham; and to this year's participants, Barbara Alford,
2-22 Brett Burnett, Johna Childress, Brooke Harrison, Collin McElroy,
2-23 Ben Meeks, Reid Miller, Ryan Miller, Ashley Odom, Charla Oliver,
2-24 Paul Pryor, Julia Prince, Anne Sawyer, Clarissa Singson, Marcy
2-25 Sorrell, Wendi Tinkle, and Brian Welch; now, therefore, be it
2-26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
2-27 Legislature hereby commend the students and sponsor of the
3-1 EnviroKids program for their outstanding contributions to Shelby
3-2 County and to the entire State of Texas; and, be it further
3-3 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
3-4 for the participants in the EnviroKids program and for prominent
3-5 display at C. H. Daniels Intermediate School as an expression of
3-6 highest esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.