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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Longhorn Leaders program, an initiative of the |
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Greater Austin Crime Commission, is celebrating its 10th |
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anniversary in 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Michael Lauderdale and Fred Ligarde, both board |
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members of the commission, collaborated with The University of |
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Texas School of Social Work to develop the Longhorn Leaders youth |
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outreach program, which creates a dialogue between university |
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students and seventh graders; and |
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WHEREAS, Middle-school youth are at a crucial point in their |
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development, and the decisions they make during this time in their |
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lives can affect their transition into early adulthood; because |
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they are more susceptible to influence and face peer pressure and |
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greater access to drugs and alcohol, alternative and positive |
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encouragement can go a long way in counteracting potential negative |
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forces; university athletes are especially effective role models |
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for students at this age because of their visibility in college |
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sports, their name recognition, and their proximity in age to |
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participants in the program; and |
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WHEREAS, During the course of a semester, Longhorn Leaders |
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give several presentations at each school, discussing their life |
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circumstances and how the difficult decisions they had to make when |
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they were younger have affected their present-day lives; while |
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making personal connections with the middle schoolers, university |
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students emphasize the importance of setting goals and promote the |
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values of teamwork and discipline; they receive course credit for |
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participating, and they often find themselves transformed as they |
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work to transform the lives of others; and |
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WHEREAS, Since fall 2003, the Greater Austin Crime Commission |
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has partnered with the UT Athletics Department and the Austin |
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Independent School District to offer the Longhorn Leaders program |
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at seven middle schools and three elementary schools throughout |
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Austin and at the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center as well; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 300 University of Texas students have |
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participated in the Longhorn Leaders program, including David Ash, |
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T. J. Ford, Cat Osterman, Colt McCoy, Quan Cosby, Erin Phenix, Kevin |
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Durant, Sonya Richards, Aaron Ross, Kasey Studdard, and Vince |
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Young; and |
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WHEREAS, By connecting with Austin youth during a critical |
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period in their lives and encouraging them to see the values of |
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leadership and smart decision-making, the Longhorn Leaders program |
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has made a positive difference in the lives of countless young |
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Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby congratulate the Longhorn Leaders program on its 10th |
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anniversary and commend the Greater Austin Crime Commission and its |
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partners, the Motorola Solutions Foundation and the University |
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Federal Credit Union, for their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Greater Austin Crime Commission as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |