LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the State University of New York
Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center upon the occasion of hosting its
43rd Annual Certification Day Ceremony

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the State University of New York Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center
upon the occasion of hosting its 43rd Annual Certification Day Ceremony
on Thursday, June 25, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1966, the State University of New York's Educa-
tional Opportunity Center has been providing educational and vocational
training services since 1966; its mission is to ensure access to higher
education and promote economic self-sufficiency to New York State resi-
dents striving to attain knowledge, acquire work skills, and achieve
career goals through instruction and continuous learning; and
WHEREAS, 37,400 graduates, 7,000 college enrollees, 6,000 GED acquisi-
tions and 24,000 individuals who have gained employment during the
school's forty plus years of operation speaks eloquently to the success
of the SUNY-Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center (SUNY-BEOC); annual-
ly, over 8,000 individuals from Brooklyn and other boroughs come in
contact with the school; of that number, it enrolls between 1,600-2,000
students annually; and
WHEREAS, Since the year 2000, SUNY- BEOC, a tuition-waived educational
institution, has made it possible for over 700 individuals to enroll in
higher education institutions mainly within the CUNY system; over 18,000
have been assisted with GED applications and testing and close to 2,500
gained employment; and
WHEREAS, On average, 65% of its enrollees graduate within the thirty-
week school year and 65% to 88% of its graduates gain employment or
enter higher education institutions; and
WHEREAS, Over 500 individuals have been assisted to obtain employment
by the BEOC Bridge to Employment Unit; it is a premier learning institu-
tion offering free tuition and a host of supportive services; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when insti-
tutions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the State University of New York Brooklyn Educational Opportu-
nity Center upon the occasion of hosting its 43rd Annual Certification
Day Ceremony; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the State University of New York Brooklyn Educational Oppor-
tunity Center.