LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Cazenovia High School Academic
Decathlon Team upon the occasion of capturing first place at the 2014
New York State Academic Decathlon Competition

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor the youth of
today and leaders of tomorrow whose character and achievements exemplify
the ideals and values cherished by this great State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor
the Cazenovia High School Academic Decathlon Team upon the occasion of
capturing first place at the 2014 New York State Academic Decathlon
Competition held February 28-March 1, 2014, at State University of New
York College at Brockport, Brockport, New York; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Academic Decathlon is a ten-event scholas-
tic competition for high school students in which participants are test-
ed in the areas of art, economics, essay, interview, language and liter-
ature, mathematics, music, science, social studies and speech; the three
students with the highest scores in each subject are then awarded
medals; and
WHEREAS, At the 2014 New York State Academic Decathlon Championships,
the Cazenovia Academic Decathlon High School Team made their district
proud by defeating five other schools and winning 35 individual medals;
the team also qualified to compete in the nationals on April 24-26,
2014, in Honolulu, Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Cazenovia Academic Decathlon Team have
devoted significant amounts of time to studying numerous facts about
this year's theme, World War I, while learning the importance of hard
work and determination; and
WHEREAS, With this victory, the team has claimed its 9th New York
State Championship in the past ten years; and
WHEREAS, The success of the Cazenovia High School Academic Decathlon
Team is due in great part to the dedicated efforts of their team advis-
er, Ben Wightman, a skilled facilitator who has guided many of his teams
to victory; and
WHEREAS, No team can succeed without outstanding talent throughout its
entire roster; such is the case for the members of the 2014 Cazenovia
High School Academic Decathlon Team: Katherine Boone, Emma Dudley, Bob
Louis, Danielle Axelson, Riley Lloyd, Joe Mevec, Remi Boissonnas, Brock
Houghton, Piper McKinnon, Chase Matteson, and Lars Ohlsen; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those
students of outstanding character who have shown initiative and commit-
ment toward constantly pursuing higher goals for themselves, and acting
as role models of leadership to be emulated by their peers; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the 2014 Cazenovia High School Academic Decathlon Team upon
the occasion of capturing first place at the New York State Academic
Decathlon Competition; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Cazenovia High School Academic Decathlon Team, and to Ben
Wightman, Team Adviser.