LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the New Lebanon Junior-Senior High
School Future City Team upon the occasion of capturing Fourth Place at
the National Future Cities Competition on February 16, 2016

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, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School Future City Team upon the
occasion of capturing Fourth Place at the Future City National Finals
for their future city entitled "Marhielo" on February 16, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Prior to placing fourth in this auspicious competition, the
New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School Future City Team won the Capital
District Future City Competition that was held on Saturday, January 9,
2016, at Proctor's Theater, Schenectady, New York; and
WHEREAS, The New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School Future City Team
attended the National Conference in Washington, D.C., from February
13-17, 2016, where they placed 4th among 37 of the best teams from
across the country; and
WHEREAS, In addition, this incredible group of students was the recip-
ient of the NSPE Award for Engineering Ethics; and
WHEREAS, The Future City Competition is part of a nationwide educa-
tional program established to encourage middle school students to use
their creative and innovative imaginations to design a city of the
future; and
WHEREAS, Working with teacher coaches and engineer-volunteer mentors
from the community, students in the Future City Competition apply math,
science, engineering and technology, as well as writing and presentation
skills, to win prizes and earn a chance to compete in the national
competition; and
WHEREAS, Since September of 2015, 40,000 middle school students from
1,350 schools in 37 national regions, as well as a new area in China,
have imagined, designed and built cities for the 2015-2016 National
Future City Competition; and
WHEREAS, Under the guidance of their teacher, Mary-Beth Liles, the New
Lebanon Junior-Senior High School Future City Team has been working
since the beginning of the school year, researching such subjects as
science and environmental engineering, and using software and math
skills to create scaled 3D models; and
WHEREAS, This year's theme, "Waste Not, Want Not," encourages students
to design waste management systems for residential use and small busi-
nesses by looking at issues such as collection, separation processing,
recycling, health and safety, energy efficiency, environmental impact
and cost; and
WHEREAS, Working in a team with an educator and engineer mentor,
students present their waste management solutions and vision of their
future city in a virtual city design (using SimCityTM software); a 1,500
word city description; a scale model of their city (build with recycled
materials); and in a short presentation to a panel of STEM profes-
sionals; and
WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, these
scholars now stand honorably, with just pride in their accomplishments
and in eager anticipation of future challenges, understanding and appre-
ciating the caring counsel and support provided by their teachers,
mentors and parents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School Future City Team; its
members, Daniel Truax, Jaden Tompkins, Lydia Loverin, Carlton Truax,
Edward Ercolani-Hunt, Austin Pryor, Zoe Hannah, Aloka Gale, and Larry
Fletcher, as well as Teacher, Mary-Beth Liles and Mentor, Christine
Bienes upon the occasion of capturing Fourth Place at the National
Future Cities Competition on February 16, 2016; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members of the New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School
Future City Team, Teacher Mary-Beth Liles, and Mentor Christine Bienes.