86R15184 JGH-D
By: Howard H.R. No. 601
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Eagle Aid legal clinic program at Akins High
School in Austin has forged a new path in legal education as one of
the first high school legal aid clinics in the nation; and
WHEREAS, The Eagle Aid clinic is staffed by student interns,
who get firsthand experience with the law by providing free legal
services to teachers, students, and members of the greater
community; to date, the program has offered guidance in immigration
law and the drafting of wills, and it will expand to include other
branches of the law in 2019; and
WHEREAS, The program was established by the school's students
in association with faculty member Armin Salek, who is also a
practicing attorney; a former intern of State Senator Kirk Watson,
Mr. Salek holds a bachelor's degree in government and sociology
from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the
University of Houston Law Center; and
WHEREAS, The program's alumni and current participants
include Aricia Amaro, Owen Cardenas, Eduardo Chavez, Jalen
Christian, Mackenzie Cords, Jordan Franken, Christian Hernandez,
Marissa Hinojosa, Jose Luna-Espinoza, Jorge Macedo, Leslie Macias
Lopez, Shana Mao, Luis Moctezuma, Alazea Ochoa, Joshua Pounds,
Mason Pounds, Miranda Rodriguez, Unique Shanklin, and Kolby Tate;
and
WHEREAS, By providing students with hands-on experience with
the law, Eagle Aid demonstrates the benefits of career education
courses and a strong high school curriculum in training and
inspiring the next generation of legal professionals; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize the Eagle Aid program at Akins High
School and extend to Mr. Salek and his students sincere best wishes
for continued success with their important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Eagle Aid program as an expression of high regard
by the Texas House of Representatives.