LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Luke Lunday upon the occasion of
his designation as the Grand Prize winner of the 2013 Breaking Barriers:
In Sports, In Life essay contest by Major League Baseball, on April 18,
2013

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those youth
of today and leaders of tomorrow whose character and accomplishments
best exemplify the ideals and values cherished by this great State and
Nation; and
WHEREAS, It is also the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
the dedication and commitment of our young people who, by distinguishing
themselves through excellence in scholastic competition, have inspired
and brought pride to our majestic Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Luke Lunday upon the occasion of his designation as the Grand Prize
winner of the 2013 Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life essay contest
by Major League Baseball; his superb achievement was announced on Thurs-
day, April 18, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Major League Baseball's (MLB) Breaking Barriers program,
initiated in 1997 in partnership with Scholastic Inc., challenges youth
to write about how they have overcome barriers or obstacles using the
values of determination, courage, and persistence embodied by the late
Jackie Robinson, who, in 1947, became the first black man to play in
major league baseball; and
WHEREAS, Developed and guided by Jackie Robinson's daughter, Sharon
Robinson, the program seeks to educate people while keeping the legend-
ary sports and civil rights icon's memory alive; this year's contest
drew a record 18,700 submissions from across the country, and the
winners were announced right after the 66th anniversary of the day Jack-
ie Robinson broke the league's color barrier on April 15, 1947; and
WHEREAS, Luke Lunday is a fifth-grade student at West Point Middle
School; he resides in West Point, New York, the home of the United
States Military Academy; and
WHEREAS, Luke Lunday's grand prize-winning essay described his gritty
determination, at age six, to learn to ride a bicycle without using
special equipment or training wheels, despite having cerebral palsy; by
the age of eight, he had accomplished this feat; and
WHEREAS, For his win, Luke Lunday received a state-of-the-art laptop,
a trip to the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field in New York City, and a
trip to the 2013 World Series, in addition to garnering a laptop for his
teacher and Breaking Barriers T-shirts for his classmates; and
WHEREAS, Luke Lunday also had the honor of reading his essay before
Sharon Robinson and his entire school, earning additional praise for his
courage from Sharon Robinson; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate to celebrate the educational accomplish-
ments of remarkable schools, students, and teachers in this great Empire
State; Luke Lunday is indeed such a student; and
WHEREAS, The designation of Luke Lunday as the Grand Prize winner of
the 2013 Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life essay contest has clearly
made a contribution to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition of
West Point Middle School; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Luke Lunday upon the occasion of his designation as the
Grand Prize winner of the 2013 Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life
essay contest by Major League Baseball, and to extend to him the best

wishes of this Legislative Body 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 Luke Lunday.