By Driver H.R. No. 1215 77R17171 JKB-D 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.