Honor Student Civics Champs

Senate Resolution No. 1226 BY: Senator GAUGHRAN CONGRATULATING Half Hollow Hills High School East upon the occasion of capturing the New York State We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Championship on January 12, 2019 WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend young people who, by achieving outstanding success in an educational competition, inspire and bring pride to themselves and to their school, their community, and the great State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Half Hollow Hills High School East upon the occasion of capturing the New York State We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Championship on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in New York City; and WHEREAS, With this monumental win, the team will represent the State of New York in the National Finals on April 26-29, 2019, in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against 1,200 students from 56 high school classes; and WHEREAS, Each year, schools from around the country participate in the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program, an intensive curriculum which provides students with a fundamental understanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, emphasizing critical thinking, analysis and writing; and WHEREAS, For the second consecutive year, the team from Half Hollow Hills High School East has won the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution New York State Finals; the team's 14 dedicated students were victorious over nine regional teams from across the State; and WHEREAS, The outstanding members of the Half Hollow Hills High School East Team have devoted hours of their free time after school and during vacations to perfecting their opening statements and to preparing for the competition's six-minute period of spontaneous follow-up questions; and WHEREAS, To win the state competition, the members of the Half Hollow Hills High School East's team testified before panels of judges to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles in a simulated congressional hearing; they also evaluated and defended positions on relevant historic and contemporary issues while explaining the philosophical and historical foundations on which the American political system is based; and WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, these young scholars now stand honorably, with just pride in their achievement and in eager anticipation of future challenges, understanding and appreciating the caring counsel and support provided by their teachers, instructors, and parents; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate the members of the Half Hollow Hills High School East Team: Arooba Ahmed, Rinni Bhansali, Isabella Bordwin, Cora-Lee Gregory, Kaitlyn Hoxha, Benjamin Keschner, Karina Khan, Stevie Martin, Rachel Propis, Nabiha Qureshi, Zakariya Rahimi, Kabir Randhawa, Kavya Rao, Lucas Stein and Joseph Vela; and Coach David Pitman upon the occasion of capturing the New York State We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Championship on January 12, 2019, and to wish them good luck in the 2019 National Competition; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the members of the Half Hollow Hills High School East We the People Team and Coach David Pitman.