Honor Emma Hakimian Achievement

Senate Resolution No. 1519 BY: Senator PHILLIPS COMMENDING Emma Hakimian upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration on April 27, 2017 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those young people within the great Empire State who have made strong contributions to their communities and who serve as role models for their peers; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Emma Hakimian upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration to be held on Thursday, April

27, 2017, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York; and WHEREAS, Holocaust Remembrance Day, known in Hebrew as Yom HaShoah, is a day set aside for remembering the victims of the Holocaust and for reminding New Yorkers, all Americans, and people around the world of what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred and indifference reign; and WHEREAS, At this auspicious event, Emma Hakimian will be recognized for her diligent work in creating a more civil society for the citizens of not only Nassau County, but the entire State of New York; and WHEREAS, Emma Hakimian is a student at Great Neck North High School in Great Neck, New York; last June, she attended senior prom taking pictures, dancing and eating with a group of people she loves and whose friendships she cherishes; through her membership in a club called Best Pals, Emma came to know the students in North High's Academic and Career Exploration (ACE) Program; this program consists of students with severe special education needs, many of whom have a difficult time socializing; and WHEREAS, In order to help make their prom more memorable, Emma Hakimian assisted these students with navigating the night, lining up for pictures, and getting their food with them; at the end of the evening she piled into the limousine to go with them for ice cream and help round out the evening; and WHEREAS, Working with individuals who have disabilities holds a soft spot in Emma Hakimian's heart; growing up she watched her brother struggle to complete typical developmental tasks and has seen her parents try and deal with the hardships that come when a child has a disability; all of these things have crystallized in her a desire to work with those who have special needs; and WHEREAS, Emma Hakimian herself is a student who works tirelessly to achieve her goals and never gives up; her 3rd grade teacher saw in her such dedication that she bestowed on her the nickname "The Little Engine That Could"; and WHEREAS, Through her incredible work ethic, Emma Hakimian has learned not just the content she needs, but more importantly how to learn and study; seeing how others naturally gravitate to her, North High's faculty selected her to serve as both a Peer Mentor as well as a Peer Leader; Peer Mentoring paired Emma with an at-risk middle school student and Peer Leadership allowed Emma to serve as a role model through the Advisory program working with a group of students; and WHEREAS, Emma Hakimian is a credit to her family, school, community, and her State and Nation, and it is certain that her future will be filled with accomplishments of equal importance; and WHEREAS, With her sense of civic duty and her commitment to others, Emma Hakimian represents the best development of the potential which is inherent in our most precious resource, our youth; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Emma Hakimian upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Emma Hakimian.