81R9420 JGH-D

By: Rose H.R. No. 660

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Proud members of the Blanco High School speech and debate team won impressive victories at two University Interscholastic League academic tournaments in January 2009; and

WHEREAS, The Blanco debate team has won four state championships since 2000, as well as 15 district championships; its members have included three state champions in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate event, and many members have earned medals or reached the finals in a variety of other events; and

WHEREAS, The school's speech team has been AA State Runner-up in the Speech Team Sweepstakes three times, with three finishes in the top five; the team has also won a regional championship and 15 district championships; and

WHEREAS, At the 2009 Hendrickson Hawk UIL Academic Tournament in Pflugerville on January 17, the Blanco team won several victories, including a first place win in persuasive speaking by Wes Stults and third place wins for Angelica Avila in both informative speaking and poetry interpretation; Hillary Tidwell and Jacob Troublefield took third place in CX Debate, and Sydni Kipp and Kristen Mancha placed seventh in CX Debate; and

WHEREAS, The following weekend, the team was also victorious at the 2009 Burnet High School Bulldog UIL Invitational, where Taylor Holden won first place in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Angelica Avila won first place in informative speaking and second in poetry interpretation; Ecce Bradfute took second in informative speaking, Braxton Guinn placed sixth in informative speaking, Travis McClinton took third in poetry interpretation, and Chandler Ashley placed third in spelling; in addition, Briar Koehl and Allen Strandtman won third place in CX Debate, and Hillary Tidwell and Jacob Troublefield took sixth; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of coach Russell Kirkscey, the talented and hardworking students of Blanco's speech and debate team have repeatedly distinguished themselves at all levels of academic competition, and they may take great pride in the recognition they have earned through their skill and dedication; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the members of the Blanco High School speech and debate team on their victories in 2009 and extend to these outstanding students sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.