By Wise H.R. No. 360 77R7198 MDM-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to 1-2 congratulate Martin Winchester of Alamo on his receipt of an All 1-3 AmeriCorps Continued Commitment Award presented by President 1-4 Clinton in a ceremony at the White House; and 1-5 WHEREAS, AmeriCorps recruits people to tutor children, build 1-6 housing for low-income families, and restore the environment, and 1-7 the Continued Commitment Award recognizes an individual's sustained 1-8 participation in service activities and encouragement of others to 1-9 be facilitators of community improvements; and 1-10 WHEREAS, A member of AmeriCorps since 1995, Mr. Winchester 1-11 was a teacher for two years in the Las Milpas colonia area and then 1-12 served as executive director of Teach for America--Rio Grande 1-13 Valley region, during which time he was instrumental in 1-14 fund-raising efforts that netted more than $300,000 in donations; 1-15 and 1-16 WHEREAS, Mr. Winchester teaches sixth-grade language arts and 1-17 social studies at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Pharr, and he 1-18 realized a heartfelt dream when he secured a $1 million grant from 1-19 the U.S. Department of Education to found the HEROES Academy, a 1-20 community learning center and extended-day college preparatory 1-21 program for at-risk middle school students; and 1-22 WHEREAS, After participating in this exemplary educational 1-23 program, 28 percent more HEROES members passed math and reading 1-24 exams, according to their Texas Assessment of Academic Skills 2-1 scores; in addition to creating the HEROES program, Mr. Winchester 2-2 developed a curriculum that concentrates on Mexican-American 2-3 heritage, and he coordinates schoolwide service projects for the 2-4 benefit of the community; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Winchester received a bachelor of arts degree 2-6 from the University of North Carolina--Charlotte; he continued his 2-7 academic pursuits at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a 2-8 master of arts degree in history, and at The University of 2-9 Texas--Pan American, where he earned a master of education degree 2-10 with an emphasis on administration; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Martin Winchester demonstrates the highest standards 2-12 of the teaching profession, and he is truly worthy of special 2-13 recognition for his commitment to educational excellence; now, 2-14 therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-16 Legislature hereby congratulate Martin Winchester on his receipt of 2-17 an All AmeriCorps Continued Commitment Award and extend to him 2-18 sincere best wishes for future success and happiness; and, be it 2-19 further 2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-21 prepared for Mr. Winchester as an expression of high regard by the 2-22 Texas House of Representatives.