LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Samantha M. Curtis upon the occasion of
her designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor
bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate

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, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain
extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their valued
contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
all of us; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Samantha M.
Curtis upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of a Liberty
Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York
State Senate; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, Samantha M. Curtis, affectionately known as Sami, is a 17
year old senior at Canton High School, Canton, New York, who was diag-
nosed with a malignant brain tumor during the summer of 2015; even
though this remarkable young woman is courageously battling her own
cancer, she finds time and energy to help raise funds for the St.
Lawrence County Cancer Fund; and
WHEREAS, At the young age of two, Sami M. Curtis tragically lost her
mother to breast cancer; to honor her mother's legacy, at the age of 12,
she began to serve as a board member for the St. Lawrence County Cancer
Fund in 2012; and
WHEREAS, For the last 15 years, Sami M. Curtis and her family have
participated in the Edward I. Moses Walk/Run For Life, a fundraiser held
annually on the last Sunday in April at St. Lawrence University; this
stellar event is comprised of individuals and teams who raise money for
the fight against cancer with 100% of the proceeds remaining within St.
Lawrence County; and
WHEREAS, Sami M. Curtis is also credited with holding her own
fundraising event, "Help Sami Kick Cancer", with all of the proceeds
benefitting the St. Lawrence County Cancer Fund; thanks to her hard work
and dedication, the event had raised more than $62,000 by November of
2015; and
WHEREAS, Individuals such as Samantha M. Curtis, devoted to improving
the quality of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity
and self-worth, are deserving of the highest praise and recognition;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Samantha M. Curtis upon the occasion of her designation as recipi-
ent of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by
the New York State Senate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Samantha M. Curtis.