LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Townsend Harris High School
"We the People" Team upon the occasion of earning Second Place in the
2010 New York State "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution"
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 Townsend Harris High School "We the People" Team upon the occa-
sion of earning Second Place in the New York State "We the People: The
Citizen and the Constitution" Competition in Albany on March 5 and 6,
2010 and to commend them 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 over 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 modem day implications;
in preparing themselves for the competition's culminating activity, a
simulated congressional hearing, 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, Located in Flushing, Queens, all 33 of the Townsend Harris
High School students on the 2009-2010 "We the People" Team are seniors;
for several months they devoted many hours preparing for the regional
and state level competitions; and
WHEREAS, The Townsend Harris High School "We the People" Team, ably
guided by AP Government teacher Dr. Linda Steinmann includes Elisa
Atamian, Brandon Baksh, Shanice Bedassie, Jehanne Belange, Rahul Bhasin,
Tejal Desai, (Eva) Fu-Yun Fan, Alexei Furs, Kellie Gergoudis, Prabhjot
Grewal, Sujata Gupta, Jocelyn Hernandez, Ashraf Hussain, Ranbir Kler,
Vincent Lai, Joanne Lee, Ivan Lesiv, Hauen Lue, Miranda Myers, Melanie
Ngo, Vassiliki Papagermanos, Eilin Perez, Julia Pojawis, Yena Purmasir,
Kristina Rodulfo, Jane Selegean, Joseph Spitaleri, Rebecca Suzuki, Kin
Yam Tsoi, Bobby Wanees, Christopher Wang, Jerry Yang, and Amy Yuan; 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 and
parents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Townsend Harris High School "We the People" Team upon
the occasion of earning Second Place in the 2010 New York State "We the
People: The Citizen and the Constitution" Competition and to offer them
best wishes 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 Townsend Harris High School "We the People" Team, AP
Government teacher Dr. Linda Steinmann, and Townsend Harris High School
Principal Kenneth Bonamo.