SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 512

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize the Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) program of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on receiving the 2020 Governor's Award for Historic Preservation; and

WHEREAS, The state's most prestigious honor for historic preservation, the Governor's Award has been presented by the Texas Historical Commission since 1991 to individuals and organizations for outstanding efforts in preserving the cultural and historic resources of Texas; and

WHEREAS, Established in 2009 by founding director Dr. Russell Skowronek, CHAPS brings scholars from UTRGV into area schools to train students from kindergarten through high school in the stewardship of natural resources and historical sites; the program helps create archaeologically and historically literate citizens while preparing them for continuing studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and

WHEREAS, Under the direction of Dr. Walter Díaz, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, the program is currently led by associate director Dr. Christopher L. Miller of the Department of History, co-director Dr. Juan Gonzalez of the School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, and project director Roseann Bacha-Garza of the Department of Anthropology, and it also utilizes the talents of UTRGV faculty from the biology, communication, education, and geology departments; in addition, it has forged beneficial partnerships with the National Park Service, the Museum of South Texas History, the Zapata County Museum of History, Revive Fort Ringgold, the Webb County Heritage Foundation, and the Historic Brownsville Museum; and

WHEREAS, The program's traveling exhibits, War and Peace on the Rio Grande 1861-1867 and Discovering Fort Brown: The First Military Border Post in Texas, have been on display at museums and other sites from Laredo to Corpus Christi and have drawn more than 40,000 visitors, and CHAPS and its faculty have been featured on many local, state, national, and international media broadcast outlets, including National Public Radio and the BBC World Service; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the Governor's Award, the program has received the 2020 Mary Faye Barnes Award for Excellence in Community History Projects from the Texas Oral History Association; its earlier awards have included the Daniel G. Roberts Award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology from the Society for Historical Archaeology, the THC Award of Merit, and the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions of Service to Texas Archeology from the Texas Archeological Society, among others; and

WHEREAS, A unique and dynamic educational program, CHAPS has inspired countless young people to explore and engage with the rich history and natural wonders of this important region of the Lone Star State, and it is truly deserving of this notable accolade; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th Legislature, hereby congratulate the Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools on its receipt of the 2020 Governor's Award for Historic Preservation and extend to all those associated with the program sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for CHAPS as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

Lucio

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 27, 2021.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate