R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
 1-2     Sharonica Powell of Longview for her achievement in being selected
 1-3     as the 1998 Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) National Poster Contest
 1-4     winner; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, A third-grade student at Jodie McClure Elementary
 1-6     School in Longview, Sharonica created a poster that portrays
 1-7     herself, her father, mother, and sister, and a cat sitting in bed,
 1-8     smiling and reading; her creation was replicated on posters, index
 1-9     cards, and bookmarks and distributed to 3.5 million children in RIF
1-10     programs across the country; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Sharonica's design was selected from the 300,000
1-12     entries submitted nationwide, and for her efforts she received a
1-13     $500 U.S. Savings Bond, a set of books, and $250 for her school
1-14     library; in addition, Sharonica and her family, as well as Annette
1-15     Childress, her school librarian and RIF coordinator, were welcomed
1-16     as the program's guests in Washington, D.C., for a ceremony during
1-17     "Reading Is Fun Week," April 20-24, 1998; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Reading Is Fundamental is America's leading
1-19     nonprofit children's literacy organization; through programs
1-20     sponsored by a network of some 240,000 volunteers, more than 184
1-21     million books have been brought into American homes, as these
1-22     dedicated individuals  work to support literacy and help children
1-23     discover the joys of reading; and
1-24           WHEREAS, The RIF National Poster Contest has received funding
 2-1     from the Metropolitan Life Foundation for the past three years, and
 2-2     in 1998 the celebration in Washington, D.C., entertained such
 2-3     well-known personalities as Chris Whitney of the Washington
 2-4     Wizards, John "Captain Kangaroo" McDonough, and Assistant Education
 2-5     Secretary Gerald Tirozzi; in addition, roughly 200 Washington-area
 2-6     elementary school students were in attendance to witness the
 2-7     festivities; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, A young woman who will surely go far in this world,
 2-9     Sharonica Powell is a source of great pride to her parents,
2-10     Clifford and Yvette Powell, and to the members of her community,
2-11     and it is fitting that she be recognized for her remarkable
2-12     achievement; now, therefore, be it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-14     Legislature hereby congratulate Sharonica Powell for winning the
2-15     1998 Reading Is Fundamental National Poster Contest and extend to
2-16     her sincere best wishes for continued good fortune and happiness;
2-17     and, be it further
2-18           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-19     prepared for Sharonica Powell and her parents as an expression of
2-20     high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                     Merritt
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 404 was adopted by the House on March
         11, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House