SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 17 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize the recipients of the 2009 Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teachers for their exemplary contributions to the cause of education in Texas; and WHEREAS, The future of Texas depends on its children, who must be fully equipped with the skills needed to successfully meet the challenges that lie ahead in the 21st century; their success would not be possible without the commitment and enthusiasm provided by teachers such as the outstanding 2009 honorees; and WHEREAS, Alan Barkemeyer of Rosebud-Lott High School in Rosebud and Penny Smeltzer of Westwood High School in Austin are receiving The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Award; Bonnie Blum of West End Elementary in Industry is receiving The Suzan and Julius Glickman Award; Todd Clearwater of Klein Oak High School in Spring is receiving The Houston Texas Exes Chapter Award; Mike Ferguson of Hebron High School in Carrollton is receiving The Mrs. Harold B. Myers Award; Kimberly Fudge of Richland High School in North Richland Hills is receiving The Gordon Appleman Award; Jim Furgeson of McCallum High School in Austin, Thadious T. Polasek of Flatonia Secondary School in Flatonia, and Brenda Vanek of Judson High School in Converse are receiving The Lillian B. Rhodes Award; Donna Gabrysch of West Hardin High School in Saratoga is receiving The Jane Johnson Wilson Award; Adriano M. Gonzalez of Business Careers High School in San Antonio is receiving The Glaxo Award; and Dora Alicia Newell of Thigpen-Zavala Elementary in McAllen is receiving The Verna Rogers Award; and WHEREAS, All of these highly regarded professionals have earned recognition from their peers for their proven ability to capture the imagination and attention of their students, for their instructional expertise, and for their collegial approach; and WHEREAS, The Texas Exes Awards program is jointly presented by The University of Texas at Austin, its College of Education, and the Texas Exes; as a recipient of the Texas Exes Award, each of these educators has achieved a rare distinction that is deserving of legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st Legislature, hereby commend the recipients of the Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teachers and extend to them best wishes for continued success in all their future endeavors; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for these dedicated teachers as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Watson ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 26, 2009. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate