1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 969
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     honor Katriska Evurunobi, a recipient of the 1999 Children's
 1-5     Defense 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
 1-9     hard won; overwhelming obstacles such as poverty, abandonment,
1-10     familial discord, and illness impede these children's path to
1-11     success; to triumph over such adversity requires nothing short
1-12     of herculean 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
1-16     Fund seeks to honor and support young people who have overcome
1-17     great adversity in their quest for achievement with its "Beat
1-18     the Odds" award, a $2,500 college scholarship, and a $1,000
1-19     scholarship from Foley's; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Katriska Evurunobi's happy home was destroyed
1-21     one night when an altercation between her parents ended in her
1-22     mother's death; for his crime, Katriska's father was incarcerated,
 2-1     leaving his two children to be raised by their overburdened
 2-2     grandmother; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Despite this tragedy, Katriska has had the
 2-4     wherewithal to keep her dreams; she works hard at a part-time
 2-5     job to earn spending money, and she strives to excel in her
 2-6     advanced classes; Katriska's diligence has earned her a 3.2
 2-7     grade-point average and a number 26 ranking in her class; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, An ambitious young woman, Katriska plans to attend
 2-9     the University of Houston, where she wants to major in accounting
2-10     or computer programming; above all, she loves to learn and is eager
2-11     to continue her studies; and 
2-12           WHEREAS, Katriska Evurunobi has truly beaten the odds
2-13     against her; her capacity to keep striving, no matter the trials,
2-14     is inspirational; Texas wishes this young woman all the success in
2-15     the world; now, therefore, be it
2-16           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-17     76th Legislature, hereby extend sincere congratulations to
2-18     Katriska Evurunobi on receiving the Children's Defense Fund's
2-19     "Beat the Odds" award; and, be it further
2-20           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
2-21     this esteemed young woman as an expression of high regard from the
2-22     Texas Senate.
2-23                                                                   Ellis
2-24                                  ______________________________________
2-25                                          President of the Senate
2-26                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-27                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 3-1                                  on May 13, 1999.
 3-2                                  ______________________________________
 3-3                                          Secretary of the Senate
 3-4                                  ______________________________________
 3-5                                           Member, Texas Senate