By Merritt H.R. No. 404 76R8383 JBR-D 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.