LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Sebastian Zarate upon the occasion of
being named the 2012 Youth of the Year by the Variety Boys & Girls Club
of Queens

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those young people within the great Empire State who have
made strong contributions to their communities and who serve as role
models for their peers; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Sebastian Zarate upon the occasion of being named the 2012 Youth of the
Year by the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious award is the highest honor a Boys & Girls
Club member can receive; it recognizes outstanding contributions to
family, school, community and to the Boys & Girls Club; and
WHEREAS, Sebastian Zarate is a strong young man who has been able to
excel and prosper regardless of any obstacles he has encountered in his
life; through all, he has managed to remain a hardworking student,
concerned with his own education and the education of his fellow class-
mates; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to the Variety Boys and Girls Club, Sebastian
Zarate is a member of the Keystone Club, a teen group dedicated to lead-
ership and community service; and
WHEREAS, Sebastian Zarate is also a member of Career Launch, a career
exploration and mentoring program; and
WHEREAS, Attributable to Sebastian Zarate's unique maturity and
distinctive leadership abilities, he is often asked to head Career
Launch meetings when necessary; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, this remarkable young man dedicates his Saturdays
to helping out at the Club, leads the JROTC battalion, and volunteers at
the Sunnyside/Woodside Unit; and
WHEREAS, Imbued with a sense of civic responsibility, Sebastian Zarate
enrolled in a committee to help keep his school, Long Island City High
School, from closing; and
WHEREAS, Sebastian Zarate eventually became the chairperson for this
committee, where he gathered students, teachers and parents and educated
them on the current situation; he expressed the need for immediate
action, in order to keep himself and his fellow classmates in school and
on a successful academic path; and
WHEREAS, In college, Sebastian Zarate looks forward to studying Crimi-
nal Justice, which he hopes will lead him to the career path of a detec-
tive in the police force, a fireman, or a member of the FBI/CIA; and
WHEREAS, Sebastian Zarate also dreams of joining a branch of the
United States military, to continue with his already present JROTC
training; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor the youth
of today, and leaders of tomorrow, whose character and achievements best
exemplify the ideals and values cherished by this great State and
Nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Sebastian Zarate upon the occasion of being named the 2012 Youth
of the Year by the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Sebastian Zarate.