LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Shane Carman upon the occasion of his
designation as the recipient of a President's Volunteer Service Award
and a Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program Certificate of
Excellence

WHEREAS, It is always with great pleasure that this Legislative Body
takes note of and publicly acknowledges the youth of today, and leaders
of tomorrow, whose character and achievements exemplify the ideals and
values cherished by this great State and nation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to recognize
and commend Shane Carman upon the occasion of his designation as the
recipient of a President's Volunteer Service Award and a Prudential
Spirit of Community Awards program Certificate of Excellence; and
WHEREAS, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, created in 1995 by
Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of
Secondary School Principals (NASSP), are designed to emphasize the
importance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage all
young Americans to contribute to their communities; and
WHEREAS, Students chosen as Local Honorees, like Shane Carman, are
honored with a Certificate of Achievement and also with the prestigious
President's Volunteer Service Award; and
WHEREAS, The President's Volunteer Service Award is an initiative of
the Corporation for National and Community Service and is administered
by the Points of Light Institute; and
WHEREAS, On February 18, 2011, the Geneseo Central School principal
and guidance counselor surprised Shane Carman, proudly presenting him
with the President's Volunteer Service Award, a Personalized Certificate
congratulating Shane for "helping to address the most pressing needs in
our community and our country" accompanied by a letter signed by Presi-
dent Barack Obama which thanks Shane for his devotion to service and for
doing all he can to shape a better tomorrow for our great nation; and
WHEREAS, President Obama's letter goes on to speak of "Americans'
duties to ourselves, our nation and our world." and, in conclusion,
states that "While government can open opportunities for us to serve our
communities, it is up to each of us to seize those opportunities.",
which Shane has certainly done and will surely continue to do; and
WHEREAS, Geneseo Central School sophomore Shane Carman has fittingly
been honored with the President's Volunteer Service Award and the
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program Certificate of Excellence
in recognition of his commitment and the extensive amount of time he
dedicated to founding and promoting and the Geneseo Youth Center; and
WHEREAS, In May 2009, as an eighth grader, Shane Carman came up with
the idea of having a youth center, a place in Geneseo where people his
own age could gather, relax and socialize; with the school facing seri-
ous fiscal issues, Shane soon realized he would need to seek sponsorship
for the center beyond the property and confines of the school; and
WHEREAS, With the help of others, including those from the Livingston
County Youth Bureau, the soon to open ABVI Goodwill Store, and others in
the community who shared and supported Shane's idea for a place where
youth could congregate, the Geneseo Youth Center became a reality; and
WHEREAS, When the ABVI Goodwill Store opened an integral component was
the adjacent youth center space; today, an adult board and youth commit-
tee, both meeting monthly, are in place to oversee the center and its
activities and events, the most recent of which was a Game Night, held
on Friday, February 18, 2011; and

WHEREAS, A fashion show and a community service project are planned
for spring dates at the center; and
WHEREAS, Shane Carman remains dedicated to the youth center and its
continued success; his current goals are to secure funding to establish
a schedule of weekly activities at the center, then to make sure the
center has sustainability for the years to come; and
WHEREAS, An outstanding role model for his peers, Shane Carman has
distinguished himself as a young man of superlative ability, establish-
ing a purposefulness of life rarely achieved in youthful years; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing the value of their labors and the promise of
their future, it is the sense of this Legislative Body that when young
people of accomplishment, such as Shane Carman, are brought to our
attention, 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
honor Shane Carman upon the occasion of his designation as the recipient
of a President's Volunteer Service Award and a Prudential Spirit of
Community Awards program Certificate of Excellence and to wish him well
in all his future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Shane Carman.