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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The first cohort of high school students to complete |
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the Together for a Better Tomorrow Youth Citizen Scientist Program |
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was honored during a graduation ceremony on May 20, 2023, in |
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McAllen; and |
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WHEREAS, Launched in 2022 by Methodist Healthcare Ministries |
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of South Texas, Inc., and the Texas A&M University School of Public |
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Health, the Youth Citizen Scientist Program is part of a two-year |
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study of arsenic and other toxic contaminants found in drinking |
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water supplies in border colonia communities in the Rio Grande |
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Valley; the $1.5 million study funded by Methodist Healthcare |
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Ministries is scheduled for completion in 2024, and its findings |
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will help to create public policy solutions for improved water |
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quality and to equip border residents with the tools they need to |
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safeguard their overall health; and |
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WHEREAS, Fourteen students from the San Carlos community in |
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Hidalgo County took part in the program: Jesús Barbosa, Stephani |
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Barbosa, Evelyn Betancourt, Zugeily Cosino, Govanny Cruz, Martha J. |
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Garza, Vanessa Ortiz, Darleny Reyes, Eunice Reyna, Evelyn |
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Rodriguez, Omar Sánchez, Donaldo Sebastián, Aaron Sierra, and |
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Suzette Valero; the students received 16 hours of training and |
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hands-on research, and following completion of the program, they |
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were credited with 10 hours of community service; in addition, they |
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were presented with a Youth Citizen Scientist Certificate from |
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Texas A&M Health, a letter of academic recommendation, and water |
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filtration systems; and |
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WHEREAS, Participating schools in the Youth Citizen |
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Scientist Program included Progreso High School, IDEA Edinburg, |
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PSJA Collegiate School of Health Professions, PSJA Southwest Early |
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College High School, IDEA Pharr, Donna North High School, and IDEA |
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Alamo; and |
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WHEREAS, By taking part in the Youth Citizen Scientist |
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Program, these outstanding young Texans have demonstrated a |
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commendable interest in protecting the health and well-being of |
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their fellow citizens, and they indeed merit special recognition; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby honor the Rio Grande Valley high school students who |
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completed the Together for a Better Tomorrow Youth Citizen |
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Scientist Program and extend to them sincere best wishes for the |
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future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the students as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas Senate. |