| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 440 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin speech team |
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| 3 | 3 | | continued its tradition of excellence by winning the team |
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| 4 | 4 | | sweepstakes championship at the 2023 American Forensic |
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| 5 | 5 | | Association National Speech Tournament; and |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Competing from April 1 through 3 in Santa Ana, |
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| 7 | 7 | | California, UT triumphed over 56 other universities to collect |
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| 8 | 8 | | its second consecutive AFA national crown and the ninth in |
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| 9 | 9 | | program history; the Longhorns were sparked by the individual |
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| 10 | 10 | | championship performances of Valeria Najera in communication |
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| 11 | 11 | | analysis, Kaylee Frazier in dramatic interpretation, and Patrick |
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| 12 | 12 | | Pham in prose interpretation; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Additionally, five members of the UT squad |
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| 14 | 14 | | achieved top-six showings; advancing to the finals were René |
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| 15 | 15 | | Otero in duo interpretation, extemporaneous speaking, and |
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| 16 | 16 | | impromptu speaking, Fernando Cereceres in program oral |
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| 17 | 17 | | interpretation and prose interpretation, Kai Solis in duo |
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| 18 | 18 | | interpretation, Jennifer Gonzalez in poetry interpretation, and |
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| 19 | 19 | | Kyle Ahern in prose interpretation; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Housed in the Department of Communication |
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| 21 | 21 | | Studies within the Moody College of Communication, the UT |
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| 22 | 22 | | speech program is directed by professor Martin "Randy" Cox; |
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| 23 | 23 | | coaches Eva Margarita, Clay Parker, Evan Ortiz, Karon Bowers, |
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| 24 | 24 | | Katayoun Khalilian, and Erin Swearingen also provide valuable |
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| 25 | 25 | | support; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Demonstrating remarkable skill and |
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| 27 | 27 | | determination, the members of the UT speech team have once again |
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| 28 | 28 | | earned the mantle of national champion, and they may indeed |
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| 29 | 29 | | reflect with pride on a job well done; now, therefore, be it |
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| 30 | 30 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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| 31 | 31 | | Legislature, hereby congratulate The University of Texas speech |
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| 32 | 32 | | team on winning the team sweepstakes championship at the 2023 |
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| 33 | 33 | | American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament and |
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| 34 | 34 | | extend to the competitors and coaches sincere best wishes for |
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| 35 | 35 | | continued success; and, be it further |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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| 37 | 37 | | prepared for the team as an expression of high regard from the |
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| 38 | 38 | | Texas Senate. |
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| 39 | 39 | | Eckhardt |
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| 40 | 40 | | ________________________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | President of the Senate |
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| 42 | 42 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 43 | 43 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 44 | 44 | | the Senate on April 19, 2023. |
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| 45 | 45 | | ________________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 47 | 47 | | ________________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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