SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 495

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased 
to recognize the students of the inaugural class of the 
Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School and welcome
them to the Capitol on March 30, 2005; and
	WHEREAS, The Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership 
School was named for the late Honorable Irma Rangel, an attorney
and former school teacher and the first Mexican American woman 
to be elected to the Texas House of Representatives; she was a 
champion of education throughout her career in public service 
and took a special interest in the education of women; and
	WHEREAS, Dallas's first all-girls public school, the 
Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School requires 
potential students to submit grades, test scores, and an essay;
the school is for girls in grades seven and eight and the rigorous
curriculum includes prehonors classes with a strong emphasis on 
mathematics, science, and technology; it is affiliated with the
Young Women's Leadership School in Harlem and is part of a 
movement that allows educators to focus on the different ways
that boys and girls learn; and
	WHEREAS, Irma Rangel was a true Texas pioneer who worked 
unstintingly to ensure that a quality education was available 
to all Texans, and it is truly appropriate that this innovative
school was named in her honor; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 
79th Legislature, hereby commend the students of the 
Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School for their
exceptional achievements and extend to them best wishes for 
success in all their future endeavors; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
the students of the inaugural class as an expression of esteem 
from the Texas Senate.
                                                                            West




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 30, 2005.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate