84R23341 WG-D
By: Smith H.R. No. 2127
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Mendoza Debate Society at Lee College in Baytown
is the highest-ranked community college debate team in the country,
and its members indeed merit special recognition for their
achievements; and
WHEREAS, The debate society, named for retired Lee College
instructor and former debate coach Joseph D. Mendoza, was
reestablished in 2013 with the help of college president Dennis
Brown and academic dean Dr. Jeff Thies; in the past two years, the
debaters have earned more than 150 competitive awards, including
three national championships in the 2013-2014 season; and
WHEREAS, During the 2014-2015 season, the Mendoza Debate
Society captured six national championship wins and more than two
dozen individual and team regular season championships; it is the
top International Public Debate Association program in Texas, and
it finished the season at fifth place in the United States; this is
the first time a community college has achieved this level of
success in the history of the IPDA; and
WHEREAS, Ably guided by director of forensics Joe Ganakos and
volunteer assistant coach Preston Langley, the members of the Lee
College Mendoza Debate Society include Himmler Assing, Cody Bijou,
Kyle Diamond, Reagan Dobbs, Joselyn Mendoza, Dax Ramgoolam, Brandon
Reinertsen, Rigo Ruiz, Shawn Start, and Emily Trevino; and
WHEREAS, These talented young men and women have demonstrated
outstanding skill and dedication, and they are a source of great
pride to their families and school and to this state; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the members of the Mendoza Debate
Society on their success and extend to them sincere best wishes for
the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.