By Nixon H.R. No. 742 77R12055 JKB-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, In an age in which nearly 10 percent of Texas 1-2 students report having attended class while drunk and one in four 1-3 teens admits to binge drinking, it is essential that we support 1-4 those seeking to reduce alcohol consumption among minors; we must 1-5 encourage youths who choose to stand against this growing epidemic, 1-6 as it takes tremendous courage to speak out against underage 1-7 drinking; and 1-8 WHEREAS, The Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse has 1-9 recently recognized six Texas teens and two youth organizations for 1-10 their noteworthy efforts to combat underage drinking by honoring 1-11 them with the prestigious Community Champion Award; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Jennifer Ceballos and Brena Yaneth Herrera of 1-13 Edinburg High School were selected to receive this award after 1-14 developing a pilot study on the state's zero tolerance of underage 1-15 drinking law, entitled "What Part of Zero Don't You Understand"; 1-16 and 1-17 WHEREAS, Jarrod Inskeep was instrumental in organizing the 1-18 Midland Youth March in 2000, assisted in the production of a 1-19 Shattered Dreams program at Midland High School, and regularly 1-20 presents prevention programs at the Boys and Girls Club in his 1-21 community; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Harold Kevin Jackson, from Stratford High School in 1-23 Houston, is vice president of the Texans Standing Tall Executive 1-24 Committee, a statewide coalition committed to preventing underage 2-1 drinking; in addition, he has served as a mentor for at-risk 2-2 elementary and middle school students, as a featured speaker before 2-3 the Houston City Council, and as a part of a sting operation with 2-4 the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Chequan A. Lewis of Watauga is a member of Haltom 2-6 High School's High On Life organization and was a delegate to the 2-7 Mothers Against Drunk Driving 2000 National Youth Summit, where he 2-8 served as a spokesperson during a Capitol Hill press conference; 2-9 and 2-10 WHEREAS, Monica Shepherd, president of Students Against 2-11 Destructive Decisions and the Leadership Council's Drug and Alcohol 2-12 Committee at Anderson High School in Austin, helped create programs 2-13 about underage drinking for students and parents at her school; and 2-14 WHEREAS, The Peer Assistance & Leadership class at 2-15 Bloomington High School in Victoria County earned recognition for 2-16 implementing numerous programs and activities to prevent alcohol 2-17 consumption by minors, including producing television and radio 2-18 public service announcements about underage drinking, sponsoring 2-19 alcohol-free parties, and staging theatrical presentations 2-20 symbolizing alcohol-related tragedies; and 2-21 WHEREAS, HYPE, a 15-member youth performance group from San 2-22 Antonio, uses music and dance to promote healthy lifestyles and 2-23 positive life choices; the group has performed at a San Antonio 2-24 Spurs game, a Red Ribbon rally at the Capitol, the Inner City 2-25 Games, and a host of other school and community events; and 2-26 WHEREAS, These exceptional Texans have demonstrated a 2-27 dedication to preventing alcohol abuse among their peers, and it is 3-1 a privilege to join in honoring them as they receive this recent 3-2 award; now, therefore, be it 3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-4 Legislature hereby congratulate the recipients of the Community 3-5 Champion Awards presented by the Texas Commission on Alchohol and 3-6 Drug Abuse and extend to them sincere best wishes for success in 3-7 all of their future endeavors; and, be it further 3-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-9 prepared for the award recipients as an expression of high regard 3-10 by the Texas House of Representatives.