Assembly Resolution No. 490

BY: M. of A. McDonald

CONGRATULATING Tara Rossbach and Colin Vogel upon
the occasion of winning first place in the Air
Trajectory event at the 2025 New York Science
Olympiad State Tournament for Division B

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend and pay
tribute to those who, by achieving outstanding success in their
educational and scientific endeavors, have inspired and brought pride to
our great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, It is also the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize
the dedication and commitment of our young people who distinguish
themselves through excellence in science competition; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
congratulate Tara Rossbach and Colin Vogel of the Howard L. Goff Middle
School Science Olympiad Team upon the occasion of winning first place in
the Air Trajectory event at the 2025 New York Science Olympiad State
Tournament on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at East Syracuse-Minoa High
School in Syracuse, New York; and

WHEREAS, The Air Trajectory event requires the team to design,
construct, and calibrate a single device capable of launching
projectiles onto a target and collect data regarding device parameters
and performance; over the course of six months, Tara Rossbach and Colin
Vogel made many changes to improve the device's accuracy, always
referencing the rules for qualification; and

WHEREAS, Earlier this year, 450 teams from around the state competed
in regional competitions with only the top 40 advancing to the state
level; having placed within the top 40, the Howard L. Goff Science
Olympiad Team traveled to Syracuse where Tara Rossbach and Colin Vogel
competed in the Air Trajectory event; and

WHEREAS, Since Tara Rossbach and Colin Vogel's first shot launched
and landed approximately 17 cm away from the target, they were able to
ask for a bucket shot; their first bucket shot proved to be short, but
with some expert readjustments, they were able to score 500 points with
a successful buzzer-winning bucket shot; and

WHEREAS, The Science Olympiad is a national non-profit organization
dedicated to improving the quality of kindergarten-12 science education,
increasing male, female, and minority interest in science, creating a
technologically-literate workforce, and providing recognition for
outstanding achievement by both students and teachers; these goals are
achieved by participating in Science Olympiad tournaments and
non-competitive events, incorporating Science Olympiad into classroom
curriculum, and attending teacher training institutes; and

WHEREAS, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is
becoming an exceedingly popular and driving field in New York State's
economy and Science Olympiad programs are influential in preparing

students to be leaders in STEM and at the forefront of emerging science
and technology; and

WHEREAS, The Howard L. Goff Science Olympiad Team is led by the
dedicated coaching of advisers Donnamarie Vlieg and Zachary Hutson,
whose inspiration and knowledge empowers their students to strive for
success; the lessons learned from these trusted advisers will prove
invaluable both on and off the competition floor by nurturing critical
thinking and a spirit of life-long learning; and

WHEREAS, Tara Rossbach and Colin Vogel were also mentored by Ryan
Ecker, a current Science Olympiad student at Columbia High School who
lends both his experience and encouragement, and Jeff Hicks, an alumnus
who tirelessly coached them to success with expertise building,
strategic launch techniques, and reminders to end the evenings with some
fun air trajectories; and

WHEREAS, The success and accomplishments of Tara Rossbach and Colin
Vogel are not just a testament to their exceptional skills and
abilities, but also a strong indicator of their potential for continued
greatness in the future, and evidence of the outstanding support that
East Greenbush Central School District has provided them; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Tara Rossbach and Colin Vogel upon the occasion of winning
first place in the Air Trajectory event at the 2025 New York Science
Olympiad State Tournament for Division B; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Tara Rossbach and Colin Vogel; advisers Donnamarie Vlieg
and Zach Hutson; and mentors Jeff Hicks and Ryan Ecker.