Senate Resolution No. 2467

BY: Senator AVELLA

CONGRATULATING Vassilia Plakas upon the occasion
of receiving the distinguished Girl Scout Gold
Award, the most prestigious of Scouting honors

WHEREAS, Vassilia Plakas, through her diligence and rigorous
efforts, has achieved Scouting's highest and most prestigious honor, the
Girl Scout Gold Award; the ceremony will be held on Wednesday, June 21,
2017, at Donovan's in Flushing, New York; and

WHEREAS, A junior at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood,
Queens, Vassilia Plakas is a member of Girl Scouts of America Troop
4404, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, New York; and

WHEREAS, An exceptional student, Vassilia Plakas is very active in
her high school; she holds the position of Vice President of the Greek
Club, and is an officer in both the Baking Club and Math Club; in
addition, she serves as a Spirit Leader and Peer Group Leader for lower
classmen; and

WHEREAS, Vassilia Plakas has been a participant of the Youth
Advisory Council at the Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered
Care at NYU Langone Medical Center (NYULMC) since 2014; and

WHEREAS, For the last 11 years, Vassilia Plakas and her family have
managed the Night of Giving at PS 41 in Bayside, New York; through their
noble efforts, the community comes together during the holiday season to
make, and then deliver teddy bears to the children hospitalized at
Flushing Hospital and New York Presbyterian Queens Hospital; and

WHEREAS, America has achieved her greatest heights of glory through
the dedication, determination and tireless efforts of the outstanding
citizens of this Nation; and

WHEREAS, It is only with the continued diligence and devotion of our
youth, tomorrow's leaders, that America will maintain her glory; and

WHEREAS, The Girl Scouts of America and its members are dedicated to
the development of character and leadership in the youth of this Nation;
and

WHEREAS, Since 1919, Senior Girl Scouts have sought to cap their
years in Girl Scouting with the prized Girl Scout Gold Award, which
challenges girls to change the world; and

WHEREAS, In order to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a girl must
complete a rigorous set of service, leadership development, and
skill-building tasks leading up to the final and most challenging
requirement, the design and completion of a Take Action Project; this
project must be an issue of interest to the girl and her community,
employ team-based solutions, and educate and inspire others; and

WHEREAS, For her project, entitled "Caring for the Pediatric Patient
and Beyond," Vassilia Plakas raised funds to assemble and deliver care
bags for the families of children who are hospitalized at NYULMC; and

WHEREAS, Vassilia Plakas also developed a tip sheet encouraging
teenagers to be their own advocate, and a second one for medical staff,
explaining how to transition from communicating with a child to a
teenager; and

WHEREAS, This outstanding young woman has been involved in Scouting
for years, has lived up to Scouting's ideals and has attained all of the
necessary achievements; and

WHEREAS, Vassilia Plakas is a credit to her family, her school, her
community, her State and her Nation, and no doubt her future will be
filled with accomplishments of equal importance; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations, in
recognition of the significance of this meritorious achievement, to
congratulate and honor Vassilia Plakas upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Vassilia Plakas.