LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Jessica Cherry upon the occasion of
winning the 2015 Community College Grand Prize in the David A. Garfinkel
Essay Contest

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commend and pay
tribute to those young people who, by achieving outstanding success in
educational competition, have inspired and brought pride to our majestic
Empire State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Jessica Cherry
upon the occasion of winning the 2015 Community College Grand Prize by
the David A. Garfinkel Essay Contest; this auspicious occasion was cele-
brated on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at the New York State Court of Appeals
in Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, Presented by the Historical Society of the Courts of the
State New York, the David A. Garfinkel Essay Contest invites community
college students from around the state to submit essays on topics of
legal relevance; this year, contestants were charged with addressing the
question: "How have the New York Courts addressed equal human rights for
the LGBT Community?"; and
WHEREAS, A native of Oakfield, New York, Jessica Cherry is a student
at Genesee Community College (GCC) studying Criminal Justice; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed young woman captured the 2015 Community College
Grand Prize with her outstanding essay, "A Look at How New York State
Legislation Has Profoundly Impacted LGBT Family Law"; and
WHEREAS, In her essay, Jessica Cherry wrote about the nature of family
and adoption for LGBT couples, and the positive steps New York State has
taken in becoming a role model for other states in striving for equal-
ity, especially in Family Law and adoption rights; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Jessica Cherry also chronicled the legal evolu-
tion of these rights and closes by expressing her hopes that additional
states will follow in the footsteps of New York in regards to marriage
laws and adoption rights; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Cherry has recently finished a semester long intern-
ship with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, and is a former member of
the GCC Student Safety Patrol; she will be transferring to SUNY Brock-
port in the Fall of 2015 to complete her Bachelor's degree in Criminal
Justice; she also plans on becoming a Police Officer; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her parents, Rebecca and Micha-
el Cherry, and her brother, Benjamin, all of whom feel privileged to be
a part of her life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, this
scholar now stands honorably, with just pride in her accomplishments and
in eager anticipation of future challenges, understanding and appreciat-
ing the caring counsel and support provided by her teachers, counselors,
and parents; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Jessica Cherry upon winning the 2015 Community College Grand Prize
in the David A. Garfinkel Essay Contest; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Jessica Cherry.