H.R. No. 33
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Eight gifted young Texans have won distinction for
themselves and their schools with their selection to serve on the
2016-2017 USA Debate Team and the USA Debate Development Team; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the National Speech and Debate
Association selects the best debaters from high schools across the
nation to be members of the prestigious USA Debate Team; over the
course of the current school year, these seasoned upperclassmen are
participating in nearly a dozen competitions in such cities as
Boston, New Orleans, and Los Angeles; they are also competing at
events in Germany, Croatia, and Singapore, in preparation for the
world championships in Bali, Indonesia, in August 2017; and
WHEREAS, For the first time, a group of underclassmen have
also been chosen as members of the USA Debate Development Team;
these promising debaters are training and practicing for the unique
World Schools style debate format with the senior team's coaches
and alumni; and
WHEREAS, Of the nine students selected nationwide for the USA
Debate Team, four are from Texas: Colette Faulkner and Gaurav
Gawankar, both seniors at Kingwood High School, Sarah Lanier, a
senior from Northland Christian School in Houston, and Nikhil
Ramaswamy, a junior from Plano West Senior High School; and
WHEREAS, Four of the nine members of the USA Development Team
are also Texans: Shreya Agarwala, a junior from Greenhill School in
Addison, Shreyoshi Das, a junior from Flower Mound High School, and
Emily Grantham and Leila Saklou, both sophomores from Kingwood High
School; and
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is also well represented on the
faculty Leadership Team, with Aaron Timmons, the director of debate
at Greenhill School, serving as head coach, and Cynthia Timmons, a
retired debate coach, serving as coach and team manager; and
WHEREAS, These talented young men and women and dedicated
leaders are working hard to promote the ideals of free and civil
discourse, and it is indeed a privilege to honor them at this time;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas members of the 2016-2017
USA Debate, Development, and Leadership Teams and extend to them
sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the members of each team as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Roberts
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 33 was adopted by the House on
February 23, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House