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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Nicolas Saunders has made valuable contributions to |
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the Graham High School Rocketeer Steers team, which placed third in |
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the StellarXplorers III National High School Space Challenge held |
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in Colorado April 6-8, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Established by the Air Force Association, |
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StellarXplorers helps promote student engagement in science, |
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technology, engineering, and mathematics through a challenging |
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space-system design competition; the contest began in October 2016 |
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with more than 130 teams registered from 30 states and 2 overseas |
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locations, and Graham High School advanced to the national event |
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after outstanding showings in the qualifying and semifinals rounds; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In the finals, the squad faced off against nine |
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other teams, completing an exercise that involved meeting a set of |
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space-mission requirements; the Rocketeer Steers had eight hours to |
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define an optimal satellite orbit, select spacecraft components, |
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and choose rocket boosters, and the next day, they presented a |
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briefing about their solution to a panel of expert judges; and |
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WHEREAS, With his team's third-place finish, Mr. Saunders |
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received an educational grant sponsored by the U.S. Air Force STEM |
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Program and the United Launch Alliance; after graduating in May |
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2017, he plans to attend Midwestern University and study mechanical |
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engineering; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his fine performance on the national stage, |
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this notable young Texan has garnered the respect of his classmates |
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and fellow competitors, and the confidence, skills, and experience |
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he has gained in the StellarXplorers program will be of great use to |
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him in his future endeavors; 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 Nicolas Saunders on placing third |
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in the 2017 StellarXplorers III National High School Space |
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Challenge as a member of the Graham High School Rocketeer Steers and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Saunders as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |