88R16653 AMB-D
By: A. Johnson of Harris H.R. No. 534
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Sonya Kulkarni of Bellaire High School was selected
to serve as one of two Texas delegates to the 61st annual United
States Senate Youth Program, which took place in Washington, D.C.,
from March 4 through 11, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Sponsored by The Hearst Foundation, the United
States Senate Youth Program enables a select group of U.S. high
school students to pursue their interest in a public service
career; every year, two student delegates are chosen from each
state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense
Office of Dependents Schools to participate in a weeklong visit to
the nation's capital; the attendees visit the White House, both
chambers of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Pentagon, and they
attend briefings and addresses given by key government figures;
moreover, each delegate receives a $10,000 scholarship to help fund
their college studies; and
WHEREAS, A senior at Bellaire High School, Ms. Kulkarni is
the first Houston Independent School District student to be
selected for the program in more than four decades; among her many
extracurricular activities, she is executive editor-in-chief of
her school's newspaper, the Three Penny Press, and she has written
for a number of publications, including Ms.magazine; in addition,
she is a member of the advisory team of the PBS NewsHour Student
Reporting Labs and a national youth ambassador for the American
Cancer Society; furthermore, she was one of 10 Houston ISD students
appointed by the superintendent to serve on the Legislative
Advisory Committee, which helps develop the district's federal and
state legislative priorities and provides feedback to the
Government Relations Department; and
WHEREAS, Talented students such as Sonya Kulkarni represent
the leaders of tomorrow, and the commitment to excellence that she
has demonstrated is certain to open the way to a bright and
promising future for this fine young Texan; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Sonya Kulkarni on her selection as
a delegate to the 61st annual United States Senate Youth Program and
extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success in all her
endeavors; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Kulkarni as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.