SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 866 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize Amber Pickens, who has been accepted to The Juilliard School and awarded a fellowship with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School for Summer Studies in New York; and WHEREAS, A senior at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Amber is the only dance or acting student admitted to The Juilliard School for the 2011-2012 academic year; she will study in the Dance Division's four-year bachelor of fine arts program, which also includes a liberal arts component; and WHEREAS, Considered one of the most prestigious performing arts conservatories in the world, The Juilliard School offers its students the opportunity to join a community of accomplished performing artists from around the world in a challenging and rigorous educational setting; and WHEREAS, Before beginning her career at The Juilliard School, Amber will participate in the Ailey Fellowship Program in New York this summer; this exceptional program embodies the standards and ideals of Alvin Ailey, one of the 20th century's foremost practitioners of dance and choreography; and WHEREAS, Through the years, Amber has received numerous awards and citations for her work, including being named a Texas Young Master of the Arts by the Texas Commission on the Arts and a YoungArts 2011 Honorable Mention Winner by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts; she is truly deserving of recognition for her dedication and commitment to developing her talent; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby commend Amber Pickens on her many outstanding achievements and extend to her congratulations on being accepted to The Juilliard School and receiving a fellowship from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. West ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 16, 2011. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate