LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Eighth Grade English Class at
Cortland Junior/Senior High School upon the occasion of capturing first
place in the 2009 NASA Space Settlement Contest

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commend and pay
tribute to those young people who have inspired and brought pride to our
majestic Empire State by achieving outstanding success in educational
competition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late the Eighth Grade English Class at Cortland Junior/Senior High
School upon the occasion of capturing first place in the 2009 NASA Space
Settlement Contest; and
WHEREAS, Educational competitions which serve to better prepare our
students for their future are worthy of praise and support; this year,
the NASA Space Settlement Contest received 294 submissions from 808
students sponsored by 92 teachers; and
WHEREAS, The Eighth Grade English Class at Cortland Junior/Senior High
School designed a complete, self-sufficient orbital space settlement
called MEGA (Mars Environment Growing Always) that orbits around Mars in
the year 2070; and
WHEREAS, To design their settlement, the Eighth Grade English Class at
Cortland Junior/Senior High School researched cutting edge technology
presented on the NASA and private space enterprise websites and in
scientific periodicals; and
WHEREAS, In small groups and individually, the students devised exte-
rior and interior design, energy production, air and water systems,
space agriculture, space mining and manufacturing, external and internal
transportation, tourism, a government, economic and education systems,
cultural programs, health care and low gravity sports; computer drawings
and original artwork completed the project; and
WHEREAS, Coached by Stephanie Passeri, the members of the Eighth Grade
English Class at Cortland Junior/Senior High School were: Matthew
Bellardini, William Brown, Amanda Edwards, Lydia Polley, Colin Walsh,
Andrew Adsit, Zachary Alexander, Amy Bryson, Seneria Curtis, Zachary
Forrester, Alexandra George, James Hearn, Luke Henkel, Megan Howard,
Carli Korik, Taryn Kress, Zachary Libbey, Tya Phillips, Courtney
Preston, Daniel Schenck, Hanna Stockton, Benjamin Thorne, Tanner Warhol-
ic, Darby Wood and Hannah Zhang; 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, fami-
ly and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Eighth Grade English Class at Cortland Junior/Senior
High School upon the occasion of capturing first place in the 2009 NASA
Space Settlement Contest, and offer them its best wishes for a future of
purposeful success and well-being; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Eighth Grade English Class at Cortland Junior/Senior High
School.