1-1                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 540
 1-2           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens
 1-3     of Dalhart, Texas, in celebrating sixth-grader Katelan Janke's
 1-4     winning of the Scholastic Book Club's annual Dear America Student
 1-5     Writing Contest; this promising young author's talent, focus, and
 1-6     zeal for the craft of writing have earned her the respect of her
 1-7     parents, school, and community; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, The Scholastic Book Club's contest is based on the
 1-9     Dear America Series, historical fiction written from a child's
1-10     perspective; the Dear America Student Writing Contest required
1-11     students to submit a fictional, historical tale through the eyes
1-12     of a child; designers of the contest hope to encourage student
1-13     interest in both history and creative writing; and
1-14           WHEREAS, In Katelan's 2,700-word entry, a young girl tells
1-15     of her experience during the Texas Panhandle's dust-bowl days; to
1-16     make her story more authentic, Katelan went to the archives, where
1-17     she spent many hours diligently researching accounts from the
1-18     dust-bowl period in the newspapers and books of Dalhart's XIT
1-19     Historical Museum; Katelan's hard work paid off, and out of
1-20     3,000 essays submitted nationwide, hers was honored with first
1-21     prize; and
1-22           WHEREAS, A second-grade teacher helped spark Katelan's
1-23     interest in creative writing and encouraged her to develop her
1-24     talent; heeding this advice, Katelan began submitting her work to
 2-1     contests; in the fourth grade, she placed first in a state writing
 2-2     competition; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Katelan's proud parents have encouraged their
 2-4     daughter's passion, especially  Katelan's mother, who proofread
 2-5     her daughter's winning essay; they are firm supporters of their
 2-6     daughter's literary endeavors; and 
 2-7           WHEREAS, Katelan Janke is a talented young Texan with much
 2-8     focus and determination, and her achievements are truly noteworthy;
 2-9     now, therefore, be it
2-10           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-11     76th Legislature, hereby congratulate Katelan Janke, winner of the
2-12     Scholastic Book Club's annual Dear America Student Writing Contest;
2-13     and, be it further
2-14           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
2-15     Katelan as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
2-16                                                                  Bivins
2-17                                  ______________________________________
2-18                                          President of the Senate
2-19                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-20                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-21                                  on March 31, 1999.
2-22                                  ______________________________________
2-23                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-24                                  ______________________________________
2-25                                           Member, Texas Senate