Senate Resolution No. 1226

BY: Senator GAUGHRAN

CONGRATULATING Half Hollow Hills High School East
upon the occasion of capturing the New York State We
the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Championship on January 12, 2019

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend young people who, by achieving outstanding success in an
educational competition, inspire and bring pride to themselves and to
their school, their community, and the great State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
congratulate Half Hollow Hills High School East upon the occasion of
capturing the New York State We the People: The Citizen and the
Constitution Championship on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Martin
Luther King Jr. High School in New York City; and

WHEREAS, With this monumental win, the team will represent the State
of New York in the National Finals on April 26-29, 2019, in Washington,
D.C., where they will compete against 1,200 students from 56 high school
classes; and

WHEREAS, Each year, schools from around the country participate in
the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program, an
intensive curriculum which provides students with a fundamental
understanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, emphasizing
critical thinking, analysis and writing; and

WHEREAS, For the second consecutive year, the team from Half Hollow
Hills High School East has won the We the People: The Citizen and the
Constitution New York State Finals; the team's 14 dedicated students
were victorious over nine regional teams from across the State; and

WHEREAS, The outstanding members of the Half Hollow Hills High
School East Team have devoted hours of their free time after school and
during vacations to perfecting their opening statements and to preparing
for the competition's six-minute period of spontaneous follow-up
questions; and

WHEREAS, To win the state competition, the members of the Half
Hollow Hills High School East's team testified before panels of judges
to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional
principles in a simulated congressional hearing; they also evaluated and
defended positions on relevant historic and contemporary issues while
explaining the philosophical and historical foundations on which the
American political system is based; and

WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose,
these young scholars now stand honorably, with just pride in their
achievement and in eager anticipation of future challenges,
understanding and appreciating the caring counsel and support provided
by their teachers, instructors, and parents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the members of the Half Hollow Hills High School East Team:
Arooba Ahmed, Rinni Bhansali, Isabella Bordwin, Cora-Lee Gregory,
Kaitlyn Hoxha, Benjamin Keschner, Karina Khan, Stevie Martin, Rachel
Propis, Nabiha Qureshi, Zakariya Rahimi, Kabir Randhawa, Kavya Rao,
Lucas Stein and Joseph Vela; and Coach David Pitman upon the occasion of
capturing the New York State We the People: The Citizen and the
Constitution Championship on January 12, 2019, and to wish them good
luck in the 2019 National Competition; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the members of the Half Hollow Hills High School East We
the People Team and Coach David Pitman.