HR1277 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1277 LRB095 20988 GRL 50059 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of the Southern Illinois University debate team on the occasion of the team's victory in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence; and

WHEREAS, The National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence is a very select competition composed of 54 of the best and brightest debate programs in the nation; a team must qualify for the national championship tournament by doing well in various events throughout the year; and

WHEREAS, Directed by Dr. Todd Graham, Southern Illinois University's debate team, composed of Kevin Calderwood, a junior in political science from Chesterfield, Missouri, and Kyle Dennis, a senior in economics from Blue Springs, Missouri, bested 53 other teams to claim victory at this prestigious tournament through the combination of hard work and intense dedication; and

WHEREAS, The Southern Illinois University debate team also entered teams in the secondary national year-end tournament, the National Parliamentary Debate Association tournament, which is held at the end of March at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and includes about 250 universities and colleges; the team made an excellent showing there as well, with Mr. Calderwood winning the top spot in the individual awards and solidifying his position as the best debater in the country; Mr. Dennis took third place overall in the individual awards; in addition, the team of Katie Thomas, from Fort Collins, Colorado, and Adam Testerman, from Springfield, Missouri, won fifth place as a team overall; also participating in the debate program was Nicholas Deml of La Crosse, Wisconsin; graduate students Benjamin Haas, from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Brian Norcross from San Diego, California, assisted Dr. Graham with the team's preparation; and

WHEREAS, Southern Illinois University's proud tradition of teaching, research, and public service has certainly born fruit in the excellent debate program and exceptional students that it has fostered; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of the Southern Illinois University debate team on the occasion of the team's victory in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Todd Graham as a symbol of our esteem and respect.