85R22835 JCD-D     By: Cain H.R. No. 1860       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, The members of FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team   no. 11524 have distinguished themselves by advancing all the way to   the 2017 Super-Regional Championship Tournament in Athens,   Georgia; and          WHEREAS, FIRST Tech Challenge provides groups of middle and   high school students with opportunities to design, build, program,   and operate robots, while developing hands-on STEM skills; and          WHEREAS, Made up of homeschool students from the Gulf Coast   area, team no. 11524, also known as Team Name Wanted: Dead or Alive,   enjoyed great success in its rookie year of FTC competition; the   group earned numerous honors at the League Championship contest,   including first place in the Inspire Award and Control Award   categories, as well as second place in the Motivate and Think Awards   and third place in the Connect and PTC Design Awards; and          WHEREAS, The squad then moved on to the regional level,   receiving first place in Winning Alliance to punch its ticket to the   Super-Regional Championship, becoming one of only four   Houston-area groups and the only junior high homeschool team to   advance; there, these talented young Texans gave a fine showing,   ultimately ranking 22nd out of 36 teams in their division; and          WHEREAS, Under the guidance of head coach Tiffany Franke and   assistant coach Ericka Alexander, team no. 11524 consists of   Stephen Alexander, Benjamin Brown, Ty Franke, Toby Franke, and   Shawn Steakley; and          WHEREAS, Through their participation in this exciting and   demanding program, the members of team no. 11524 have demonstrated   exceptional skill and dedication, and they may indeed look forward   to a future bright with promise; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas   Legislature hereby congratulate the team no. 11524 robotics squad   on an outstanding 2016-2017 season and extend to all those   associated with the team sincere best wishes for continued success;   and, be it further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be   prepared for the group as an expression of high regard by the Texas   House of Representatives.