79R19352 MDM-D

By:  Wong                                                         H.R. No. 2154



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Grace A. Chen and Alvin Nemeno Alvarez are to be 
congratulated on their engagement and forthcoming marriage; and
	WHEREAS, The couple will begin their journey as husband and 
wife with the exchange of their wedding vows on July 23, 2005, in a 
ceremony held at the Lucie Stern Community Center in Palo Alto, 
California, after which they will make their home in Brisbane, 
California; and
	WHEREAS, Working toward a doctorate in counseling psychology 
from The University of Texas at Austin, Ms. Chen anticipates an 
August 2005 graduation; she completed her predoctoral internship at 
the University of Maryland at College Park Counseling Center and 
her practicum in individual therapy at the Southwestern University 
Counseling and Mental Health Center; furthermore, this exceptional 
student was a volunteer therapist at the Sunrise Center, a 
community mental health agency for immigrants, refugees, asylum 
seekers, and low-income clients; and
	WHEREAS, Ms. Chen graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's 
degree in psychology from Duke University and received a master's 
degree in counseling psychology from The University of Texas at 
Austin; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Alvarez holds the position of associate chair of 
the department of counseling at San Francisco State University, 
where his responsibilities include coordinating the counseling 
program and serving as an instructor, academic advisor, and 
clinical supervisor; over the course of his employment with the 
university, which began in 1997, he has been an assistant professor 
and an associate professor as well as acting student discipline 
officer; his professional career has also included tenure as an 
instructor in the Asian American Studies Program at the University 
of Pennsylvania; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Alvarez's impressive education includes a 
doctorate and a master's degree in counseling psychology from the 
University of Maryland at College Park; he also received a 
bachelor's degree in biological sciences and a bachelor's degree 
with honors in psychology from the University of California at 
Irvine; and
	WHEREAS, Ms. Chen and Dr. Alvarez are most deserving of 
special recognition as they formally commit their lives to each 
other and prepare for the myriad blessings and challenges of 
marriage; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate Grace A. Chen and Alvin Nemeno 
Alvarez on their engagement and forthcoming marriage and extend to 
them best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the couple as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.