Senate Resolution No. 1999

BY: Senator ASHBY

COMMENDING Fatemeh Sima Amiri upon the occasion of
winning the inaugural New York State of Poetry prize

WHEREAS, It is the sense 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 this great
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 Fatemeh Sima Amiri upon the occasion of winning the inaugural
New York State of Poetry prize; and

WHEREAS, New York State of Poetry is a new program created by the
New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Teachers and Writers
Collaborative to engage high school students across New York State with
the art of poetry; and

WHEREAS, Students across New York State were invited to read and
write poems with a chance to be published in a statewide anthology and
read their poems at National Poetry Month readings; and

WHEREAS, The New York State of Poetry welcomed over 5,000 students
from 59 high schools across every region of New York State into the
craft of poetry: reading great poems and writing original works; and

WHEREAS, The winning poem, "Third Apartment," by Fatemeh Sima Amiri,
a 10th grade student at Shaker High School in Albany County, stood apart
from the thirty-three poems that were submitted and celebrated with
readings at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City on Saturday, April
18, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Fatemeh Sima Amiri will be reading her piece at the New
York State Museum in Albany, New York on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 2
p.m.; 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
appreciating the caring counsel and support provided by her teachers and
parents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Fatemeh Sima Amiri upon the occasion of winning the inaugural
New York State of Poetry prize; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Fatemeh Sima Amiri.