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