By Johnson H.R. No. 590 74R9189 KMP-D 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 clean-up project in Shelby 1-10 County that was named the most outstanding effort of its kind in 1-11 the State 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.