Senate Resolution No. 2874

BY: Senator HELMING

HONORING Mark D. Gearan upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New
York State Senate

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of
certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their
valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Mark D.
Gearan upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty
Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York
State Senate; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, Mark D. Gearan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in
government cum laude from Harvard University; he furthered his education
by obtaining his law degree from Georgetown University; and

WHEREAS, Mark D. Gearan was appointed President of Hobart and
William Smith Colleges in 1999; the longest serving President, he has
led the institution through a period of unprecedented growth; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure, he was responsible for many important
advances at the Colleges which have furthered its reputation as a
prominent liberal arts institution; and

WHEREAS, Through his esteemed role as President, Mark D. Gearan has
accomplished numerous economic development goals within the Finger Lakes
Region; and

WHEREAS, At the close of his first year at Hobart and William Smith
Colleges, Mark D. Gearan began the development of a five-year strategic
planning initiative called HWS 2005; he then led the next two phases,
HWS 2010 and HWS 2015, as well as Campaign for the Colleges, which
raised significant funds to support facilities, endowment and annual
giving; and

WHEREAS, Mark D. Gearan has made service to individuals,
communities, and the planet a foundational component of his term at the
Colleges, one that pervades the significant commitments HWS has made to
diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability and the Colleges'
valued relationship with the Geneva community; and


WHEREAS, According to a 2015 analysis by the Commission on
Independent Colleges and University, under President Gearan's innovative
direction, Hobart and William Smith Colleges is a significant economic
driver, with a total impact of $269.2, an increase of approximately $25
million since 2013; independent institutions of higher education had a
nearly $80 billion impact on New York State's economy; and

WHEREAS, The $269 million HWS total includes direct spending by the
school, construction and labor costs, and estimated student and visitor
impact; and

WHEREAS,The Gearan Center for the Performing Arts, a three-story,
65,000-square-foot facility which greatly enhances the Colleges' role in
local and regional advancement of arts and culture, had a significant
impact on institutional spending; and

WHEREAS, HWS impact on the region through student and visitor
spending was responsible for more than $21 million in benefits to the
tourism-rich Finger Lakes region; this number includes discretionary
spending at restaurants, hotels and retailers by students, as well as
their visiting friends and family; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, Hobart and William Smith Colleges employed 1,660
people through direct and spillover impact, with an additional 10
spinoff jobs from research projects; salaries totaled more than $102
million; and

WHEREAS, Through the tireless efforts of President Mark D. Gearan,
and the significant economic impact of Hobart and William Smith
Colleges, the City of Geneva has received both state-wide and national
attention for its revitalization and community-wide initiatives; and

WHEREAS, The City of Geneva was also given a $10 million investment
through the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, which is
part of a $100 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative to encourage
development in 10 communities across New York State; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, for its inclusive, innovative and ongoing efforts
to influence positive, community-wide change, Geneva was named a 2015
All-America City, a highly selective honor by the National Civic League
bestowed upon only 10 cities across the entire country; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality
and character of life in this great Empire State is indelibly enriched
by the faithful efforts of those economic leaders such as Mark D.
Gearan, who devote their purpose to promoting economic vitality and
service to the public need; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Mark D. Gearan upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
New York State Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Mark D. Gearan.