By Seaman                                              H.R. No. 865

         75R14421 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Robert Wilson Elementary School Odyssey of the

 1-2     Mind team will represent Texas at the Odyssey of the Mind World

 1-3     Competition in Baltimore June 4-7, 1997, and these young Corpus

 1-4     Christi residents have proved more than equal to this task; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The team secured its invitation to the world

 1-6     competition in early April, when they won their division at the

 1-7     state competition held in Houston; there they squared off against

 1-8     other Odyssey of the Mind teams from across the state in a

 1-9     friendly, yet emotionally charged, environment; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Competing in the "Can You Dig It?" category, the

1-11     team performed a collaboratively-written play with an

1-12     archaeological theme; the team's performance features sets, props,

1-13     and costumes designed and constructed by team members, and focuses

1-14     on the question of whether children can remain friends when adults

1-15     become enemies; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Team members include Grace Stafford, Sierra Garbe,

1-17     Jonathan Thompson, Andrew Botelho, Elise Dellinger, Katie Wallace,

1-18     and Alyse Deller; coaches Allison Smith and Kathy Botelho have

1-19     provided guidance for these commendable kids in their pursuit of

1-20     excellence in the name of education; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Odyssey of the Mind promotes teamwork among

1-22     participants and encourages students to develop a better

1-23     understanding of world events, mathematics, and science, while

1-24     stressing the importance of creativity and problem-solving;

 2-1     programs such as this lead to higher self-esteem and enable

 2-2     children to apply practical knowledge in real-life situations; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, These commendable young people have earned the

 2-4     respect and admiration of their classmates and teachers, as well as

 2-5     the citizens of Corpus Christi, and the members of this chamber are

 2-6     proud to wish them well as they prepare for their next great

 2-7     challenge; now, therefore, be it

 2-8           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-9     Legislature hereby congratulate students from Robert Wilson

2-10     Elementary School for winning the Odyssey of the Mind competition

2-11     and extend to them sincere best wishes for continued success and

2-12     happiness in the years to come; and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-14     prepared for these exemplary students as an expression of high

2-15     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.