H.C.R. No. 104

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Dr. Kitty Harris Wilkes was recognized with a 2011 Woman of Excellence award from the YWCA of Lubbock for her achievements in the field of education; and

WHEREAS, An annual project that has honored 185 individuals since 1989, the YWCA Women of Excellence awards are given to women leaders whose contributions to business, industry, and area associations are crucial to the success of those organizations and the Lubbock community; the awards program is in keeping with the YWCA's goal to empower women and their families and to establish strong role models for the next generation of South Plains women; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kitty Harris Wilkes is a preeminent advocate for students; the George C. Miller Family Regents professor at Texas Tech University and associate dean for outreach and engagement in the College of Human Sciences, she is also director of the Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery; she oversees a scholarship endowment and range of services designated specifically for students recovering from substance abuse and eating disorders, and her program has been a model for colleges and universities around the country; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Harris Wilkes is also a director of the Center for Prevention and Resiliency and supervises three projects through the center: a civility, ethics, and leadership program for middle school students, an initiative to fight childhood obesity, and Supportive Adolescent Services, a Lubbock Independent School District effort that helps adolescents develop important life skills; in addition, she has served as a consultant on substance abuse programming with the Lubbock ISD since the early 1980s; and

WHEREAS, This notable Texan is a fellow with the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention and a member of the Laura Bush Women's Initiative advisory council at the George W. Bush Institute; she was instrumental in establishing Lubbock ISD's Margaret Talkington School for Young Women Leaders and is a director of the J. T. and Margaret Talkington Charitable Foundation and the Lubbock National Bank; in recognition of her many public-spirited efforts, she has received the America Honors Recovery and Counselor of the Year awards from the Texas Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, and the Lubbock ISD named a substance abuse and violence prevention award for her; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Harris Wilkes earned her doctorate in human development and family studies from Texas Tech and her master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of North Texas; in all of her endeavors, she enjoys the love and support of her husband, Morris Wilkes; and

WHEREAS, Inspiring others with her notable accomplishments, Dr. Kitty Harris Wilkes stands at the forefront of those individuals who are making a positive difference in their communities, and she is indeed deserving of this prestigious honor; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby congratulate Dr. Kitty Harris Wilkes on her selection as a 2011 YWCA of Lubbock Woman of Excellence and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Harris Wilkes as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.

Frullo Perry

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 104 was adopted by the House on April 21, 2011, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 104 was adopted by the Senate on May 3, 2011, by a viva-voce vote.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor