SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 512
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize the Community Historical Archaeology Project with
Schools (CHAPS) program of The University of Texas Rio Grande
Valley on receiving the 2020 Governor's Award for Historic
Preservation; and
WHEREAS, The state's most prestigious honor for historic
preservation, the Governor's Award has been presented by the
Texas Historical Commission since 1991 to individuals and
organizations for outstanding efforts in preserving the cultural
and historic resources of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Established in 2009 by founding director
Dr. Russell Skowronek, CHAPS brings scholars from UTRGV into
area schools to train students from kindergarten through high
school in the stewardship of natural resources and historical
sites; the program helps create archaeologically and
historically literate citizens while preparing them for
continuing studies in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics; and
WHEREAS, Under the direction of Dr. Walter Díaz, dean of
the College of Liberal Arts, the program is currently led by
associate director Dr. Christopher L. Miller of the Department
of History, co-director Dr. Juan Gonzalez of the School of Earth,
Environmental, and Marine Sciences, and project director Roseann
Bacha-Garza of the Department of Anthropology, and it also
utilizes the talents of UTRGV faculty from the biology,
communication, education, and geology departments; in addition,
it has forged beneficial partnerships with the National Park
Service, the Museum of South Texas History, the Zapata County
Museum of History, Revive Fort Ringgold, the Webb County Heritage
Foundation, and the Historic Brownsville Museum; and
WHEREAS, The program's traveling exhibits, War and Peace on
the Rio Grande 1861-1867 and Discovering Fort Brown: The First
Military Border Post in Texas, have been on display at museums
and other sites from Laredo to Corpus Christi and have drawn more
than 40,000 visitors, and CHAPS and its faculty have been
featured on many local, state, national, and international media
broadcast outlets, including National Public Radio and the BBC
World Service; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the Governor's Award, the program
has received the 2020 Mary Faye Barnes Award for Excellence in
Community History Projects from the Texas Oral History
Association; its earlier awards have included the Daniel G.
Roberts Award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology
from the Society for Historical Archaeology, the THC Award of
Merit, and the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding
Contributions of Service to Texas Archeology from the Texas
Archeological Society, among others; and
WHEREAS, A unique and dynamic educational program, CHAPS
has inspired countless young people to explore and engage with
the rich history and natural wonders of this important region of
the Lone Star State, and it is truly deserving of this notable
accolade; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th
Legislature, hereby congratulate the Community Historical
Archaeology Project with Schools on its receipt of the 2020
Governor's Award for Historic Preservation and extend to all
those associated with the program sincere best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
CHAPS as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
Lucio
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 27, 2021.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate