86R15184 JGH-D

By: Howard H.R. No. 601

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Eagle Aid legal clinic program at Akins High School in Austin has forged a new path in legal education as one of the first high school legal aid clinics in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The Eagle Aid clinic is staffed by student interns, who get firsthand experience with the law by providing free legal services to teachers, students, and members of the greater community; to date, the program has offered guidance in immigration law and the drafting of wills, and it will expand to include other branches of the law in 2019; and

WHEREAS, The program was established by the school's students in association with faculty member Armin Salek, who is also a practicing attorney; a former intern of State Senator Kirk Watson, Mr. Salek holds a bachelor's degree in government and sociology from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center; and

WHEREAS, The program's alumni and current participants include Aricia Amaro, Owen Cardenas, Eduardo Chavez, Jalen Christian, Mackenzie Cords, Jordan Franken, Christian Hernandez, Marissa Hinojosa, Jose Luna-Espinoza, Jorge Macedo, Leslie Macias Lopez, Shana Mao, Luis Moctezuma, Alazea Ochoa, Joshua Pounds, Mason Pounds, Miranda Rodriguez, Unique Shanklin, and Kolby Tate; and

WHEREAS, By providing students with hands-on experience with the law, Eagle Aid demonstrates the benefits of career education courses and a strong high school curriculum in training and inspiring the next generation of legal professionals; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby recognize the Eagle Aid program at Akins High School and extend to Mr. Salek and his students sincere best wishes for continued success with their important work; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Eagle Aid program as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.