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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Philip Hayes of Lindale received a $150,000 |
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scholarship by winning the History Whiz Kids Debate at the National |
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Constitution Center in Philadelphia in August 2008; and |
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WHEREAS, This first annual national debate competition was |
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sponsored by Now Debate This, an online educational program |
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dedicated to involving high school students in creatively exploring |
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American history and civics and the way they affect contemporary |
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issues; and |
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WHEREAS, Now a senior at Lindale High School, Mr. Hayes was |
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one of the competition's 16 semifinalists, chosen from more than |
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200 contestants who submitted videos on YouTube; and |
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WHEREAS, The topic for the debate asked whether George |
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Washington or Abraham Lincoln was the better president; arguing on |
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behalf on George Washington, Mr. Hayes was chosen as the winner by |
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the audience at the National Constitution Center and by viewers |
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casting their votes online; his victory was announced and his |
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scholarship presented to him the day after the debate on the Fox and |
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Friends television show; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Ron and Janet Hayes, Mr. Hayes has been |
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active throughout his high school years as a member of the Speech |
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and Debate Club, the school band, and the LHS Young Republicans |
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Club; he is also president of the Lindale Library Teen Advisory |
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Board and an Eagle Scout; and |
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WHEREAS, This notable young Texan's skills as a speaker and |
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debater have previously been recognized with a third place win in |
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the University Interscholastic League 2008 Lincoln-Douglas Debate |
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and a second place win in the National Sons of the American |
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Revolution Oratory Contest, and he was invited to address the |
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Republican National Convention in St. Paul in September 2008; in |
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the spring of 2009, Mr. Hayes earned the distinction of being |
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elected to the city council of Hideaway at the age of 18, and he was |
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sworn into office on May 12; and |
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WHEREAS, Philip Hayes is an outstanding orator whose |
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knowledge of history and ability to communicate effectively have |
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started him firmly on his path to success; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Philip Hayes on winning the History |
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Whiz Kids Debate in 2008 and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Hayes as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |