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