LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending LaGuardia Community College's Liberty
Scholars Program upon the occasion of its 20th Anniversary Celebration
on April 16, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend institutions and programs of commitment and high achievement
whose purpose and endeavor are dedicated to addressing the needs of
youth at-risk; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commend LaGuardia Community College's Liberty Scholars Program upon the
occasion of its 20th Anniversary Celebration, to be held at the College
on April 16, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The Fiorello H. LaGuardia Community College/CUNY Liberty
Partnership Program (LPP), now in its 20th year of operation, was
initially funded in 1989-90 through the New York State Department of
Education as part of a statewide college/school consortium designed to
address the needs of youth at-risk; and
WHEREAS, Through an in-school/after-school comprehensive support
program at LaGuardia Community College, the college's Liberty Partner-
ship Program, the LaGuardia Liberty Scholars Program, provides a combi-
nation of basic skills classes and enrichment skills activities for 320
students in 9th through 12th grades; and
WHEREAS, LaGuardia's partner, or satellite, schools include W.C.
Bryant High School, International High School, and Middle College High
School; a Saturday program is also available at Middle College High
School for students who do not attend satellite schools but, rather,
attend nearby schools in Western Queens; and
WHEREAS, With its racial and ethnic diversity, Queens is considered a
gateway for today's immigrant populations; indeed, with students from
more than 160 countries, LaGuardia Community College proudly refers to
itself as "The World's Community College" and, over its past several
five-year cycles, the College's LaGuardia Liberty Scholars Program has
mirrored this diversity; and
WHEREAS, The LaGuardia Liberty Scholars Program provides classes in
Leadership Skills, including resume writing, job skills readiness,
PSAT/SAT preparation, and Webpage design, and Enrichment Skills, includ-
ing digital photography, New York State Regents Examination preparation,
creative writing, Latin dance, and poetry; and
WHEREAS, The program also provides counseling services which may
include personal and family, academic, college and financial aid coun-
seling sessions on a one-on-one, small group, or one-day workshop basis;
the important formative and summative assessment and tracking of student
performance in the program is conducted by multiple means, most notably
including the recent introduction of electronic portfolios; all LaGuar-
dia Liberty Scholars Program faculty and workshop leaders are certified
to teach in their subjects and are provided extensive professional
development opportunities throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, LaGuardia Liberty Scholars, in addition, regularly visit
colleges, participate in internships, and attend job and college fairs
to help prepare themselves for a promising postsecondary experience;
they usually receive either extra service or academic credits for their
participation in these programs, and their parents and guardians are
encouraged to attend the Saturday Center with them; and
WHEREAS, The greatest asset of any society is its children and the
hope and promise they represent for the future; LaGuardia Community
College and its Liberty Scholars Program have, for 20 years, been dedi-

cated to improving the ability of at-risk youth to graduate from high
school and enter postsecondary education and the workforce and may be
justly proud of their accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend LaGuardia Community College's Liberty Scholars Program upon the
occasion of its 20th Anniversary Celebration on April 16, 2009; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to LaGuardia Community College and to the LaGuardia Liberty
Scholars Program.