By Kubiak                                            H.C.R. No. 158

         75R9524 BNL-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The celebration of Austin County Day at the State

 1-2     Capitol on March 19, 1997, provides a fitting opportunity to pay

 1-3     tribute to the many outstanding young people in that community, and

 1-4     the Texas Legislature is pleased to recognize the county's visiting

 1-5     high school students who have excelled both academically and

 1-6     athletically in the 1996-1997 school year; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, The students of Bellville High School have

 1-8     experienced an exceptionally rewarding year, taking home honors

 1-9     from a number of prestigious competitions; the girls' volleyball

1-10     team, led by Amanda Pilcik, Amanda Smitheal, Shelby O'Canas, and

1-11     Alix Morrow, won the state championship, while girls' cross-country

1-12     team and individual qualifier Stephanie Reyes and tennis team

1-13     member Brooke Mahon drew accolades for their athletic performances

1-14     as well; and

1-15           WHEREAS, The school's music program is renowned throughout

1-16     the community, and this year Tim Chernosky, Michael Cochran, and

1-17     Jeff Taylor were named to the All State Band; the ensembles that

1-18     qualified for state competition included Amie Bond, Kim Whitehead,

1-19     Suzanna Zaskoda, Charlie Bage, Jennifer Carlson, Cheryl Guthman,

1-20     Sara Winn, Chris Johnson, T. J. Schultz, Chris Freude, and Ryan

1-21     Malone, as well as Mr. Cochran and Mr. Chernosky; Mr. Cochran also

1-22     qualified for solo competition along with Mr. Taylor, and Ms. Bond

1-23     and Mr. Freude further represented their school in the state

1-24     marching band competition; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, In academic competition, the school's science

 2-2     program fared especially well; Courtney Walsh, Cara Turner, Zach

 2-3     Rogers, and Brandon Hoff earned first place in the Pentathlon State

 2-4     Science Olympiad, while Brandon Hoff and Scott Minar placed second

 2-5     in the Nature Quest competition and the team of Michelle Smith and

 2-6     Shawn Holloway earned third place in Science Password; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, The school is also fortunate to benefit from the

 2-8     diverse talents of state and national prepared speaking champion

 2-9     Brena Schumann, Austin County Fair Art Show "Best of Show" winner

2-10     Nick Morgan, Austin County Fair Queen Cara Turner, duet acting

2-11     state qualifier Jackie McEuen, and SAT Outstanding Scholar Scott

2-12     Minar, who scored among the top two percent in the nation on this

2-13     difficult exam; and

2-14           WHEREAS, The students of Sealy High School reaped the rewards

2-15     of an unprecedented milestone this year when their football team

2-16     brought home the school's third Class 3A state championship in a

2-17     row, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Jeff Gaston, Danny

2-18     Klatt, John Sodolak, and Forrest Wagner; the girls' volleyball team

2-19     had a similarly impressive season, and, with substantial

2-20     contributions from Kerry Machala and Paula Grigar, the team

2-21     finished as the Class 3A state runner-up; and

2-22           WHEREAS, Bill Krampitz and Kindle Micken qualified for state

2-23     competition in the challenging field of debate, while Stacey

2-24     Zapalac  was a national qualifier for DECA competition; Future

2-25     Farmers of America chapter President Angela Sowa and Officer Justin

2-26     Szymanski represented their chapter at the state level of

2-27     competition, and Byron Boone embodied the school's commitment to

 3-1     academic excellence as a National Merit Commended Student; and

 3-2           WHEREAS, This outstanding balance of academic and athletic

 3-3     success was also evident at Brazos High School; Amanda Reese earned

 3-4     inclusion on the Academic All State Volleyball team while Jennifer

 3-5     Toman was named to the TGCA All State Volleyball roster, and their

 3-6     teammate Latasha McDade was included in both organizations; Roni

 3-7     Minks also performed well on the court and was named to the All

 3-8     State Volleyball team; Future Farmers of America chapter President

 3-9     Jennifer Divin and student council member Tracy Main offered

3-10     invaluable leadership to their peers while earning academic

3-11     recognition as well; and

3-12           WHEREAS, All of these students are a source of great pride to

3-13     their schools, parents, and communities; their achievements

3-14     indicate that the future of the Lone Star State is indeed in

3-15     capable hands, and it is a privilege to welcome them to the State

3-16     Capitol on the auspicious occasion of Austin County Day; now,

3-17     therefore, be it

3-18           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

3-19     hereby designate March 19, 1997, as Austin County Day at the State

3-20     Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation from

3-21     one of Texas' finest communities.