By Culberson                                           H.R. No. 796
         76R13547 WMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The James E. Taylor High School academic decathlon
 1-2     team from the Katy Independent School District has achieved
 1-3     outstanding success by placing second in the 1999 U.S. Academic
 1-4     Decathlon; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Having already claimed the state title, the Taylor
 1-6     High School team traveled to Fullerton, California, where the young
 1-7     scholars' performance in the disciplines of economics, fine arts,
 1-8     language and literature, mathematics, science, and social studies
 1-9     earned the team national runner-up status for the second
1-10     consecutive year; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Team members Amit Gupta, Michael Griebe, Charles
1-12     Rubio, Jackie Sokol, Joshua Robinson, Cyrus Chen, Andrew Hsieh,
1-13     Nick Vitolo, and Leif Powers each made significant contributions to
1-14     the group's overall success, and Mr. Gupta also earned individual
1-15     distinction as the competition's highest-scoring student; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Exemplary leadership and guidance were provided by
1-17     coaches Susan Shellum and Cynthia Swetnam, and their efforts
1-18     enabled members of the team to perform to the best of their
1-19     abilities; and
1-20           WHEREAS, The James E. Taylor High School academic decathlon
1-21     team is a source of tremendous pride to its school and community,
1-22     and the team's accomplishments are indeed worthy of special
1-23     recognition; now, therefore, be it
1-24           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-1     Legislature hereby congratulate the members of the James E. Taylor
 2-2     High School academic decathlon team on their state championship and
 2-3     second place finish in the 1999 U.S.  Academic Decathlon and extend
 2-4     to them sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness;
 2-5     and, be it further
 2-6           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 2-7     prepared for the James E. Taylor High School academic decathlon
 2-8     team as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of
 2-9     Representatives.