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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin speech team |
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furthered its legacy of success by winning the national |
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championship at the 2025 American Forensic Association National |
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Speech Tournament; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1978, the AFA-NST has drawn thousands of |
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college students from across the country to compete for national |
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titles in 11 individual events; held each April, its participants |
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must pass through a rigorous qualification system to earn their |
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entrance; and |
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WHEREAS, Competing on April 5-7 in Charlotte, North Carolina, |
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Texas Speech collected its 4th consecutive national championship |
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and the 11th in program history; individually, its members brought |
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home 11 national finalist trophies in events ranging from limited |
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preparation to interpretation, with performances that prioritized |
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political and personal advocacy; in addition, third-year student |
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Ishika Bhasin was named the national champion in impromptu |
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speaking; and |
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WHEREAS, Housed in the Department of Communication Studies |
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within the Moody College of Communication, Texas Speech is UT |
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Austin's official competitive intercollegiate speech organization, |
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and its members train and compete in nationally recognized |
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categories of performance and public speaking; they also serve |
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alongside Texas Debate as the organizing point for the historical |
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records and forensic history of one of the school's oldest student |
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organizations, the Texas Forensic Union, which was first |
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established as the Athenaeum Literary Society in 1883; led by |
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captains Kaylee Frazier and Jennifer Gonzalez, the team benefits |
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from the guidance of its director, Dr. Eva Margarita, and coaches; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, By collecting four consecutive national |
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championships, Texas Speech has distinguished itself as a |
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powerhouse in collegiate forensics, and its members may indeed |
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reflect with pride on a job well done; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate The University of Texas speech team |
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on winning the championship at the 2025 American Forensic |
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Association National Speech Tournament and extend to its members |
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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 Texas Speech as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |