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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Eight gifted young Texans have won distinction for |
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themselves and their schools with their selection to serve on the |
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2016-2017 USA Debate Team and the USA Debate Development Team; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year, the National Speech and Debate |
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Association selects the best debaters from high schools across the |
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nation to be members of the prestigious USA Debate Team; over the |
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course of the current school year, these seasoned upperclassmen are |
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participating in nearly a dozen competitions in such cities as |
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Boston, New Orleans, and Los Angeles; they are also competing at |
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events in Germany, Croatia, and Singapore, in preparation for the |
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world championships in Bali, Indonesia, in August 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, For the first time, a group of underclassmen have |
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also been chosen as members of the USA Debate Development Team; |
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these promising debaters are training and practicing for the unique |
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World Schools style debate format with the senior team's coaches |
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and alumni; and |
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WHEREAS, Of the nine students selected nationwide for the USA |
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Debate Team, four are from Texas: Colette Faulkner and Gaurav |
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Gawankar, both seniors at Kingwood High School, Sarah Lanier, a |
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senior from Northland Christian School in Houston, and Nikhil |
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Ramaswamy, a junior from Plano West Senior High School; and |
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WHEREAS, Four of the nine members of the USA Development Team |
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are also Texans: Shreya Agarwala, a junior from Greenhill School in |
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Addison, Shreyoshi Das, a junior from Flower Mound High School, and |
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Emily Grantham and Leila Saklou, both sophomores from Kingwood High |
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School; and |
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is also well represented on the |
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faculty Leadership Team, with Aaron Timmons, the director of debate |
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at Greenhill School, serving as head coach, and Cynthia Timmons, a |
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retired debate coach, serving as coach and team manager; and |
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WHEREAS, These talented young men and women and dedicated |
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leaders are working hard to promote the ideals of free and civil |
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discourse, and it is indeed a privilege to honor them at this time; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas members of the 2016-2017 |
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USA Debate, Development, and Leadership Teams and extend to them |
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sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the members of each team as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |