1-1                                     1
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1063
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     honor April Stevens, 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
 1-8     a 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 of
1-12     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 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, By the time she was eight, April Stevens's
1-21     family was already depending on her; her father suffered from a
 2-1     debilitating illness, and her mother was blind; also, April's
 2-2     frail grandmother and two younger siblings looked to her for
 2-3     support; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, April's father died when she was 15, and from that
 2-5     day on, she assumed household leadership; she managed the family's
 2-6     monthly $1,500 income, filled out the Social Security forms, cooked
 2-7     dinner, and attended to the myriad needs of her mother, grandmother,
 2-8     and two siblings; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Despite her many responsibilities at home, April
2-10     managed to graduate valedictorian of her class; what is more,
2-11     she earned scholarships to two of the nation's premier academic
2-12     institutions, Rice University in Houston, and Northwestern
2-13     University in Evanston, Illinois; and
2-14           WHEREAS, April has chosen to attend Rice University next
2-15     fall; a selfless giver, she wants to remain near her Houston home
2-16     should her family need support; Texas is indeed lucky to have such
2-17     a capable, courageous, and compassionate young woman among its
2-18     citizens; and
2-19           WHEREAS, April Stevens 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,
2-24     76th Legislature, hereby extend sincere congratulations to
 3-1     April Stevens on receiving the Children's Defense Fund's "Beat
 3-2     the Odds" award; and, be it further
 3-3           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
 3-4     this esteemed young woman as an expression of high regard from
 3-5     the Texas Senate.
 3-6                                                                   Ellis
 3-7                                  ______________________________________
 3-8                                          President of the Senate
 3-9                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-10                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-11                                  on May 21, 1999.
3-12                                  ______________________________________
3-13                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-14                                  ______________________________________
3-15                                           Member, Texas Senate