LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Edward R. Murrow High School
"We the People" Team upon the occasion of earning First Place in the New
York State "We the People...the Citizen and the Constitution" Competi-
tion and qualifying for the 2009 National Competition

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend young people who, by achieving outstanding success in an educa-
tional 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 congratu-
late the Edward R. Murrow High School "We the People" Team upon the
occasion of earning First Place in the New York State "We the
People...the Citizen and the Constitution" Competition in Albany on
March 7, 2009, and qualifying for the 2009 National Competition; and
WHEREAS, Brooklyn's Edward R. Murrow High School has been designated a
School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education; in
the National Competition, its "We the People" Team will compete against
the top teams from the other 49 states and the District of Columbia in
Washington, D.C., beginning on April 25, 2009 and concluding on April
27th, and are to be commended for their accomplishment; and
WHEREAS, Each year schools from across the country participate in the
"We the People...the Citizen and the Constitution" program, sponsored by
the Center for Civic Education and designed to promote civic competence
and responsibility among the nation's elementary and secondary students;
since the inception of the program in 1987, more than 28 million
students and 90 thousand educators have participated in its instruc-
tional program and more than 1,200 students participate in the national
competition each year; and
WHEREAS, Students who participate in the competition must learn all of
the intricacies involved in the creation and application of the U.S.
Constitution, beginning with the Constitution's foundation in Enlight-
enment thinking and Colonial history and extending to the ways in which
all of its Articles and Amendments have historically been and currently
are implemented by the executive, legislative and judicial branches of
both national and state governments; and
WHEREAS, Each team is comprised of six units, each focusing on a
particular area of Constitutional interest, from the philosophical
underpinnings and Constitutional Convention to modern day implications;
in preparing themselves for the competition, the students must become
experts on the text of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, United
States history, Supreme Court decisions, and current world events to
meet the demands of the program and each tier of competition; and
WHEREAS, Twelve of the Edward R. Murrow High School students on the
2008-2009 "We the People" Team are seniors at Murrow and one is a junior
with advanced standing; for the past four months, they 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; they are all also
enrolled in a "We the People" class which meets daily; and
WHEREAS, At the regional and state levels students demonstrate their
knowledge and critical thinking skills in one round of competition in
front of a single panel of three judges; at the national level, students
participate in at least two rounds of competition and the top ten teams
compete in a third round; and
WHEREAS, The Edward R. Murrow High School "We the People" Team, ably
guided by Program Coordinator Susana Giberga, includes Esthena Brutten;

Dolyna Chan; Rebecca Ditchek; Gwendolyn Etienne; Barbara Florvil; Dariya
Golubkova; Ariana Holland; Ethan Kwassman; Monira Monir; Angelo Ngai;
Jayvee Rhoda; Sara Sunshine; and Cesar Ventura; and
WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, these
scholars now stand honorably, with just pride in their achievement and
in eager anticipation of future challenges, understanding and appreciat-
ing the caring counsel and support provided by their teachers, coach and
parents; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Edward R. Murrow High School "We the People" Team upon
the occasion of earning First Place in the New York State "We the
People...the Citizen and the Constitution" Competition and qualifying
for the 2009 National Competition and to offer them best wishes in the
National Competition as well as for a future of purposeful success and
well-being; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Edward R. Murrow High School "We the People" Team and to
Program Coordinator Susana Giberga.