Honor Naomi Mereday Award Winner

Senate Resolution No. 2699 BY: Senator BRESLIN HONORING Naomi Elizabeth Mereday upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Charlotte Ann Criner Award by the Black Women's Association of Albany on June 10, 2017 WHEREAS, It is the sense 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 honor Naomi Elizabeth Mereday upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Charlotte Ann Criner Award by the Black Women's Association of Albany, to be celebrated at its Marian I. Hughes Scholarship Awards Reception on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at The Linda WAMC's Performing Arts Studio in Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, The Black Women's Association of Albany (BWAA) was founded on September 21, 1977, by a group of dynamic women with the purpose to stimulate political and social awareness, encourage cultural growth, help youth realize their full potential through education and serve as positive role models for African American women of all ages; and WHEREAS, The BWAA Marian I. Hughes Scholarship Awards were established in 2005, in memory of Miriam I. Hughes, an educational leader who held various teaching and administrative positions in the City School District of Albany; she was also an Associate in the New York State Education Department, the author of two books about the history of public school education in Albany, and an advocate for better human relations; and WHEREAS, Naomi Elizabeth Mereday, a senior at Bethlehem Central School, engaged in a rigorous academic program which included Enriched Algebra 2, Principles of Engineering, and Advanced Placement Physics; and WHEREAS, An active scholar, Naomi Elizabeth Mereday is Treasurer of the Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) and a member of both the Art Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD); and WHEREAS, Dedicated to the well-being of her community, Naomi Elizabeth Mereday volunteered at the Center for Disability Services, Kitten Angels, local food pantries and Delmar Place, assisting with activities for the elderly residents; and WHEREAS, For her achievements in high school, Naomi Elizabeth Mereday won the RPI computing medal and scholarship last year; and WHEREAS, Naomi Elizabeth Mereday plans to study Computer Engineering at Binghamton University; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those students of outstanding character, who have shown initiative and commitment toward constantly pursuing higher goals for themselves, and acting as role models of leadership to be emulated by their peers; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Naomi Elizabeth Mereday upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Charlotte Ann Criner Award by the Black Women's Association of Albany on June 10, 2017, and to extend to her the best wishes of this Legislative Body for a future of purposeful success and well-being; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Naomi Elizabeth Mereday.