TITLE: Congratulating the Texas members of the 2016-2017 USA Debate, Development, and Leadership Teams on their many successes.

SUMMARY: Congratulating the Texas members of the 2016-2017 USA Debate, Development, and Leadership Teams on their many successes.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Eight gifted young Texans have won distinction for themselves and their schools with their selection to serve on the 2016-2017 USA Debate Team and the USA Debate Development Team; and WHEREAS, Each year, the National Speech and Debate Association selects the best debaters from high schools across the nation to be members of the prestigious USA Debate Team; over the course of the current school year, these seasoned upperclassmen are participating in nearly a dozen competitions in such cities as Boston, New Orleans, and Los Angeles; they are also competing at events in Germany, Croatia, and Singapore, in preparation for the world championships in Bali, Indonesia, in August 2017; and WHEREAS, For the first time, a group of underclassmen have also been chosen as members of the USA Debate Development Team; these promising debaters are training and practicing for the unique World Schools style debate format with the senior team's coaches and alumni; and WHEREAS, Of the nine students selected nationwide for the USA Debate Team, four are from Texas: Colette Faulkner and Gaurav Gawankar, both seniors at Kingwood High School, Sarah Lanier, a senior from Northland Christian School in Houston, and Nikhil Ramaswamy, a junior from Plano West Senior High School; and WHEREAS, Four of the nine members of the USA Development Team are also Texans: Shreya Agarwala, a junior from Greenhill School in Addison, Shreyoshi Das, a junior from Flower Mound High School, and Emily Grantham and Leila Saklou, both sophomores from Kingwood High School; and WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is also well represented on the faculty Leadership Team, with Aaron Timmons, the director of debate at Greenhill School, serving as head coach, and Cynthia Timmons, a retired debate coach, serving as coach and team manager; and WHEREAS, These talented young men and women and dedicated leaders are working hard to promote the ideals of free and civil discourse, and it is indeed a privilege to honor them at this time; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas members of the 2016-2017 USA Debate, Development, and Leadership Teams and extend to them sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the members of each team as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Roberts Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 33 was adopted by the House on February 23, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House