TITLE: Commending the 2013 Class of UTSA Legislative Scholars.

SUMMARY: Commending the 2013 Class of UTSA Legislative Scholars.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Eight students from The University of Texas at San Antonio have contributed indispensable support to the Texas Legislature as members of the UTSA Legislative Scholars Program, and as the 83rd Legislative Session draws to a close, it is indeed fitting to recognize these dedicated interns; and WHEREAS, Since 2004, the endeavor cofounded by State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon and The University of Texas at San Antonio, which is also known as the McClendon Legislative Scholars Program, has provided students with the unique opportunity to work full-time at the State Capitol during the legislative session; while serving as interns in the offices of members of the Texas House of Representatives, these select undergraduate and graduate students immerse themselves in the legislative process and make important connections with prominent policymakers and elected officials; each of the promising students chosen to participate has demonstrated a commitment to public service, as well as professionalism and independent thinking, and as interns, they perform a number of essential tasks, including research, analysis, writing, and corresponding with constituents; and WHEREAS, Working in the office of Representative Dawnna Dukes, Eliana Briceno is majoring in Spanish and sociology at UTSA, where she was a finalist for Student Volunteer of the Year; she has contributed more than 300 hours to the Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Services, including coordinating spring break trips to benefit Habitat for Humanity; she is the recipient of the Outstanding Latina Student Leadership Award, among other honors, and after graduating, she plans to pursue a certificate in international studies at Johns Hopkins University; and WHEREAS, Ana Cabrera, who has served in the office of Representative Senfronia Thompson, is majoring in honors studies and minoring in legal studies and art history and criticism; a member of the University Honors Student Association, she has also served as a justice of the Student Government Association and as secretary of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society; and WHEREAS, An intern in the office of Representative Rob Orr, Samantha Link has earned a legal reasoning certificate, as well as a scholarship, from the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and she has attended the Summer Law School Preparation Academy at the UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs; majoring in business management, she plans to pursue a law degree and to enlist in the U.S. Navy; and WHEREAS, Travis Miller has been a welcome addition to the office of Representative Jose Menendez; a founding father of the UTSA chapter of Alpha Tau Omega, a leadership development fraternity, Mr. Miller is also a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars; he is studying political science, holds a certificate in legal reasoning, and plans to attend law school; and WHEREAS, Amarro Nelson, an intern in the office of Representative Ruth Jones McClendon, is pursuing his graduate degree in sociology, having completed his bachelor's degree at George Washington University; as an undergraduate, he was the community service chair for Delta Tau Delta Fraternity in Washington, D.C., where he coordinated service projects and raised more than $10,000 to benefit local residents; and WHEREAS, Serving in the office of Representative Borris Miles, Alexandra Rosales is a first-generation college student who is majoring in criminal justice; she is a dedicated volunteer for Hope Hospice in New Braunfels, Goodwill, and Cole Vocational Services in California, where she works with adults with developmental disabilities; she plans to attend law school and has earned an award for logical reasoning from the UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs; and WHEREAS, Corbin Marak, an intern in the office of Representative Lois Kolkhorst, has built a notable resume that includes internships with Judge Cliff Brown of Austin and the Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division; in addition, he has volunteered for former U.S. Congressman Charles Gonzalez of Texas and the First Tee of Greater Austin; a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Mr. Marak hopes to one day become a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; and WHEREAS, Valerie Sullivan has served in the office of the speaker of the house, Joe Straus; pursuing a master's degree in social work, she is a former member of the U.S. Air Force Security Police, for which she organized food, clothing, and blood drives, and led the rebuilding of an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan; she has further distinguished herself through her volunteerism in behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, and the U.S. Army's Community Service Center; and WHEREAS, The highly qualified students who make up the Class of 2013 McClendon Scholars have provided a vital service to the legislature throughout the session while expanding their knowledge of Texas politics and government, and it is a pleasure to celebrate these accomplished young people and to honor them for their notable public service; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commend Eliana Briceno, Ana Cabrera, Samantha Link, Travis Miller, Amarro Nelson, Alexandra Rosales, Corbin Marak, and Valerie Sullivan for their myriad contributions to state government as participants in the 2013 UTSA Legislative Scholars Program and extend to them sincere best wishes for continued success in all their endeavors; and, be it further RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared for the McClendon Scholars as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. McClendon Strama Kolkhorst Orr Dukes Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2626 was adopted by the House on May 25, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House