R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Odessa's Permian High School has been selected as a 1-2 finalist for the 1997 Governor's Awards for Environmental 1-3 Excellence; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Since 1992, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 1-5 Commission has coordinated an innovative, voluntary, statewide 1-6 pollution prevention program, "CLEAN TEXAS 2000," to educate Texans 1-7 about the measures we can take to preserve and protect the 1-8 environment; and 1-9 WHEREAS, CLEAN TEXAS 2000 and the Office of the Governor 1-10 cosponsor the annual Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence 1-11 to reward and recognize outstanding environmental projects and 1-12 accomplishments; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Plans for the Permian High School Botanical Garden 1-14 were developed in 1988, when members of the school's faculty 1-15 lobbied to create an area of native vegetation within the school's 1-16 otherwise urban setting; the development of the garden, which 1-17 features representations of the five ecological areas of West 1-18 Texas, involved students and faculty as well as various members of 1-19 the community; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The garden offers students the opportunity to learn 1-21 more about the environment of West Texas, including particular 1-22 plant and animal relationships, and it also has helped to instill a 1-23 sense of pride in the individuals who work to maintain and enhance 1-24 this exciting project; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The students, faculty, and staff of Permian High 2-2 School have set a fine example for Odessa's citizens by working to 2-3 protect our state's ecological future, and their efforts will 2-4 undoubtedly encourage others to participate in similar programs 2-5 that will benefit the entire community; now, therefore, be it 2-6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-7 Legislature hereby congratulate the students, faculty, and staff of 2-8 Permian High School on being named a finalist for the 1997 2-9 Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence and extend to them 2-10 sincere best wishes for continued success with this worthy project; 2-11 and, be it further 2-12 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-13 prepared for prominent display at Permian High School as an 2-14 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. West _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 986 was adopted by the House on May 23, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House