1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 932 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-4 honor Courtney Wyly, a recipient of the 1999 Children's Defense 1-5 Fund's "Beat the Odds" award; and 1-6 WHEREAS, For many children in our Texas communities, 1-7 achievements like graduating from high school, accumulating a 1-8 good grade point average, and attending college are more than hard 1-9 won; overwhelming obstacles such as poverty, abandonment, familial 1-10 discord, and illness impede these children's path to success; to 1-11 triumph over such adversity requires nothing short of herculean 1-12 effort; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Tenacity, strength, determination, self-confidence, 1-14 and bravery are but a few of the qualities these children must 1-15 possess to beat the odds against them; the Children's Defense Fund 1-16 seeks to honor and support young people who have overcome great 1-17 adversity in their quest for achievement with its "Beat the Odds" 1-18 award, a $2,500 college scholarship, and a $1,000 scholarship from 1-19 Foley's; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Courtney Wyly's 18 years have been full of hardship; 1-21 when she was five, her father was murdered, leaving a young mother 2-1 to support three small children; to provide for her children, 2-2 Courtney's mother turned to crime and was subsequently 2-3 incarcerated; and 2-4 WHEREAS, In her mother's absence, Courtney, who was only 2-5 14, supported her sisters with various odd jobs; when her sisters 2-6 returned to live with their mother, young Courtney stayed away, 2-7 knowing she had to take full responsibility for her future; and 2-8 WHEREAS, After living in several foster homes and attending 2-9 five high schools in three years, Courtney, once again, took 2-10 charge; she had always wanted to attend the DeBakey High School 2-11 for the Health Professions, and, thus, she took measures to ensure 2-12 her eventual enrollment in the institution; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Courtney has performed exceptionally at the DeBakey 2-14 High School; she is graduating with a 3.7 grade point average and 2-15 will attend Grinnell College in Iowa with a full scholarship; 2-16 Courtney aspires to become a doctor; no doubt this remarkable young 2-17 woman, full of such courage and conviction, will achieve her dream; 2-18 and 2-19 WHEREAS, Courtney Wyly has truly beaten the odds against 2-20 her; her capacity to keep striving, no matter the trials, is 2-21 inspirational; Texas wishes this young woman all the success in 2-22 the world; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-1 76th Legislature, hereby extend sincere congratulations to 3-2 Courtney Wyly on receiving the Children's Defense Fund's "Beat 3-3 the Odds" award; and, be it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-5 this esteemed young woman as an expression of high regard from 3-6 the Texas Senate. 3-7 Ellis 3-8 ______________________________________ 3-9 President of the Senate 3-10 I hereby certify that the above 3-11 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-12 on May 11, 1999. 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 Secretary of the Senate 3-15 ______________________________________ 3-16 Member, Texas Senate