R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Frank LoCrasto of Garland has recently been selected
 1-2     as a 2001 Presidential Scholar, and this prestigious honor is truly
 1-3     a significant achievement; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, The Presidential Scholars program was established in
 1-5     1964 to honor the nation's most academically accomplished
 1-6     graduating high school seniors, and it was later expanded to
 1-7     recognize students who have demonstrated exceptional talent in the
 1-8     visual, creative, and performing arts; up to 141 students
 1-9     nationwide are awarded this designation every year, and each
1-10     receives a commemorative medallion and an invitation to Washington,
1-11     D.C., for National Recognition Week in June; and
1-12           WHEREAS,  A senior at Booker T. Washington High School for
1-13     the Performing & Visual Arts in Dallas, Mr. LoCrasto was one of 20
1-14     youths selected as Presidential Scholars for artistic skill; he is
1-15     a gifted pianist and organist who has been studying, recording, and
1-16     playing jazz music for years and who received a four-year
1-17     scholarship to the New School University in New York, where he
1-18     plans to obtain a degree in jazz performance; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Already Mr. LoCrasto has earned the attention and
1-20     appreciation of musicians and audiences around the United States,
1-21     having made several television appearances, played at jazz
1-22     festivals in California, Louisiana, Colorado, Oklahoma, New York,
1-23     and Germany, and he has been invited to perform at the Kennedy
1-24     Center during the medallion ceremony,  with President Bush and many
 2-1     other notables expected to be in the audience; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, The beloved son of Frank and Theresa LoCrasto, this
 2-3     talented Texan has been the recipient of a host of notable
 2-4     accolades, including "Best Composition" and "Best Blues/Pop/Rock
 2-5     Soloist" in North America by Down Beat magazine's Student Music
 2-6     Awards and the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, A participant in the Arts Recognition and Talent
 2-8     Search program by the National Foundation for Advancement in the
 2-9     Arts, Mr. LoCrasto has proven himself an exceptional musician, and
2-10     it is a privilege to join his family, friends, and fellow artists
2-11     in honoring him at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-12           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-13     Legislature hereby congratulate Frank LoCrasto on being named a
2-14     2001 Presidential Scholar and extend to him sincere best wishes for
2-15     continued success in all of his future endeavors; and, be it
2-16     further
2-17           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-18     prepared for Mr. LoCrasto as an expression of high regard by the
2-19     Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                      Driver
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 1215 was adopted by the House on May
         28, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House