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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Six outstanding students from The University of |
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Texas at San Antonio make up the 2009 class of the McClendon |
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Legislative Service Scholars Program, and as the 81st Legislative |
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Session draws to a close, it is indeed appropriate to recognize |
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these dedicated interns; and |
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WHEREAS, Created by Representative Ruth Jones McClendon in |
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August 2004, the McClendon Legislative Service Scholars Program is |
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a collaborative initiative with the UTSA Institute for Law and |
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Public Affairs; coordinated by the institute's director and UTSA |
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political science professor Richard Gambitta, the program gives |
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undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to serve as |
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interns in the Texas House of Representatives during legislative |
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sessions; selected by a UTSA scholarship committee based on |
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academic credentials as well as such criteria as good judgment, |
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independent thinking, and professionalism, the interns are |
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assigned to work in the offices of members of the house throughout |
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the session; and |
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WHEREAS, An intern in the office of Representative Jose |
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Menendez, Jessica Castilleja has maintained a 4.0 GPA while |
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studying political science; she has been active in the Student |
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Leadership Academy and Student Appeals Committee at South Texas |
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College, the VAMOS 2007 Scholarship Committee, the ACLU, and Phi |
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Alpha Delta; also a dedicated community volunteer, she has shared |
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her time with the Mujeres Unidas y Activas clothing drive, the |
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Community Justice Program at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, and the |
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Hidalgo County Bar Association; she looks forward to making a |
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positive difference through a career in the field of public policy; |
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and; |
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WHEREAS, A political science major, Caryn Brianna Malone has |
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received a number of honors during her college career; in addition |
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to earning a place on the dean's list and honor roll, she is an |
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Honors College Leadership graduate and a member of the Golden Key |
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International Honour Society and the UTSA Political Science Honor |
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Society; she has gained valuable experience through her service as |
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an Archer Fellow in Washington, D.C., as an intern at the U.S. |
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Department of Education, and currently as an intern in the office of |
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Representative Ruth Jones McClendon; a graduate of the rigorous |
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UTSA Summer Law School Preparation Academy, she plans to serve her |
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fellow citizens through a career in law and government; and |
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WHEREAS, Also majoring in political science, Allen D. Match, |
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Jr., has demonstrated a desire to improve the lives of others, |
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working to help underprivileged residents of Mexico gain access to |
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clean water as partner and managing member of Water Security |
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Mexico; he has also served as a consultant with the UNAM Department |
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of Economics, a clerk with Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht, and senior zone |
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leader with Mormon Missionaries in Mexico, and his work as an intern |
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has been greatly valued in the office of Representative Lois |
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Kolkhorst; in addition to earning a certificate in legal reasoning, |
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Mr. Match has completed the UTSA Summer Law School Preparation |
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Academy and plans to pursue a career in public policy; and |
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WHEREAS, Nicole Elise Robbins, who is majoring in English |
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with an emphasis in professional writing, maintains a 4.0 GPA and |
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has earned membership in a number of national and international |
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honor societies, including Sigma Kappa Upsilon, Golden Key, Alpha |
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Chi, and Sigma Tau Delta; she is a recipient of two scholarships |
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from the Institute for Law and Public Affairs as well as the John S. |
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Jockusch Endowed Scholarship in the Liberal Arts; admired for her |
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keen intellect and sharp wit, Ms. Robbins was a welcome addition to |
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the office of Representative Jim McReynolds; and |
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WHEREAS, An intern in the office of Representative Roberto |
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Alonzo, Daniela Santoni has proven herself to be a dedicated |
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community volunteer; in addition to her service with the Americorps |
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Rape Crisis Center, she has tutored bilingual children, worked with |
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Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, and assisted in relief |
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efforts following Hurricane Ike, and her generous contributions |
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foretell a future bright with promise; and |
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WHEREAS, Frank Carni II is currently a junior in the UTSA |
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Honors College, where he is studying political science and business |
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administration; a member of the National Society of Collegiate |
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Scholars and Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor |
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Society, he chairs the College Republicans at UTSA and was elected |
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Texas College Republicans State Secretary in 2008; his work history |
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includes service as a UTSA supplemental instruction leader and as |
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an intern with the 2008 Republican National Convention; this |
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session, he has served in the office of Speaker Joe Straus; and |
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WHEREAS, These dedicated students have provided vital |
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support services to the legislature throughout the session while |
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gaining important firsthand experience in government, and it is a |
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pleasure to recognize the contributions of these accomplished young |
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people as well as the role of this exceptional program in preparing |
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our future generation of leaders; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the McClendon Legislative Service |
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Scholars Program on its successful third year and extend to Jessica |
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Castilleja, Caryn Brianna Malone, Allen D. Match, Jr., Daniela |
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Santoni, and Frank Carni II sincere best wishes for success in all |
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their endeavors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the interns as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |