H.R. No. 800
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Amy Chyao, a student at Plano East Senior High
School, won the top prize at the 2010 Intel International Science
and Engineering Fair, the largest precollege science fair
competition in the world; and
WHEREAS, This talented high school junior joined The
University of Texas at Dallas George A. Jeffrey NanoExplorers
Program in the summer of 2009 and worked with Dr. Kenneth J. Balkus,
Jr., a professor in the chemistry department, on efforts to develop
novel photocatalysts; Ms. Chyao's research, funded by the National
Institutes of Health, involves semiconducting nanoparticles that,
when exposed to certain wavelengths of light, generate a form of
oxygen deadly to cancer cells; this photodynamic therapy could
yield a way to treat cancers beneath the skin by using targeted
lasers; and
WHEREAS, At the 2010 Intel science fair in San Jose,
California, Ms. Chyao beat out more than 1,600 students from 59
countries to win the top honor, the Gordon E. Moore Award; the award
is accompanied by a $75,000 prize, which she hopes to put toward the
cost of medical school; after her Intel International win, she
attended the 2010 White House Science Fair to showcase her research
and talk with President Barack Obama, and she was invited by the
president to attend the 2011 State of the Union address; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Chyao also participated in the First Step to
Nobel Prize in Physics training program in 2009, working with
leading scientists for two weeks in Poland; she is active in the
Learning About Science and Engineering Research program, competes
in University Interscholastic League math and science matches, and
has been a part of the UT Dallas Metroplex Math Circle and
AwesomeMath camps; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her scientific pursuits, Ms. Chyao
plays the cello in her school's chamber orchestra and in the Greater
Dallas Youth Orchestra; she takes part in the National Honor
Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Orchestra Council, and
the Spanish and environmental clubs at her school, and she is a
student advisor in the Plano Youth Leadership program and
volunteers as an attorney in Teen Court; moreover, she founded and
leads Spell Success, an organization that aims to inspire students
in spelling, vocabulary, and public speaking, and she competed in
the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the age of 13; and
WHEREAS, Amy Chyao has won the attention and respect of the
scientific community and of elected officials at the highest levels
of government, and her abilities, hard work, and commitment to
excellence have surely opened the way to limitless opportunities
for this extraordinary young Texan; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor 2010 Intel International Science and
Engineering Fair winner Amy Chyao for her remarkable scientific and
academic achievements and extend to her sincere best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Chyao as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Taylor of Collin
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 800 was adopted by the House on March
17, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House