H.R. No. 81
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The face of Texas is rapidly changing, and
demographic trends indicate that Hispanics will soon make up a
majority of the state's population; as a result, more certified
bilingual teachers are needed, and a program at the University of
North Texas is wisely addressing that need; and
WHEREAS, In collaboration with the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, UNT is offering the Roberto R. Alonzo
Bilingual/ESL Education Scholars Program to provide scholarships
as incentives for students to pursue certification programs in
bilingual or ESL education; covering tuition and fees, the
scholarships are available to junior and senior undergraduate and
postbaccalaureate students at UNT; and
WHEREAS, Students enrolled in this program must maintain at
least a 2.75 grade point average, meet financial aid requirements,
and use the scholarship funds to pay for courses and fees related to
early childhood to sixth-grade bilingual or ESL generalist
certification; an average of 30 UNT students benefit from the
scholarship program each semester; and
WHEREAS, Equipping future teachers with fluency in the
Spanish language that will facilitate the delivery of content in
the classroom as well as encouraging respect and appreciation of
linguistic and cultural differences are important priorities of the
UNT program, and student participants may take pride in the fact
that they are providing a service that is vital to the future of our
state by attending to the needs of the growing population of
Spanish-speaking schoolchildren; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby honor participants in the University of North
Texas Roberto R. Alonzo Bilingual/ESL Education Scholars Program
for 2016 and commend them for their commitment and dedication to the
children of Texas.
Alonzo
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 81 was adopted by the House on
February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House