LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the New Visions: Law & Government
Class, a program of the Capital Region BOCES upon the occasion of
capturing First Place in the New York State We the People: The Citizen
and the Constitution competition and qualifying for the 2016 National
Competition

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend young people who, by achieving outstanding success in an educa-
tional competition, inspire and bring pride to themselves and to their
school, their community, and the great State of New York; 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 New Visions: Law & Government Class, a program of the Capital
Region BOCES, upon the occasion of capturing First Place in the New York
State We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competition, and
qualifying for the 2016 National Competition on Saturday, February 27,
2016; and
WHEREAS, Each year, schools from around the country participate in the
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program, an intensive
curriculum which provides students with a fundamental understanding of
the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, emphasizing critical thinking,
analysis and writing; and
WHEREAS, For the second consecutive year, the New Visions: Law &
Government Class has won the We The People: The Citizen and the Consti-
tution New York State Finals; the team's 11 dedicated students were
victorious over nearly 150 students from five other regional Champion
teams from across New York state; and
WHEREAS, New Visions: Law & Government is a college-level career-ex-
ploration program for academically-competitive high school seniors which
offers AP credit and integrates college credit through the State Univer-
sity of New York at Albany's High School Program; and
WHEREAS, These dynamic students also participate in both mock trials
and congressional hearings, and visit with many judges and lawyers over
the course of the year; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, New Visions students are placed in internships
where they can gain real-life experience and career insight in places
such as the Albany County District Attorney's Office, various State
courts, the State Legislature, and numerous public and private interest
and advocacy organizations; and
WHEREAS, The outstanding members of the New Visions: Law & Government
Class Team have devoted hours of their free time after school and during
vacations to perfecting their opening statements and to preparing for
the competition's six minute period of spontaneous follow-up questions;
and
WHEREAS, To win the state competition, the members of the New Visions:
Law & Government program testified before panels of judges to demon-
strate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles in
a simulated congressional hearing; they also evaluated and defended
positions on relevant historic and contemporary issues while explaining
the philosophical and historical foundations on which the American poli-
tical system is based; and
WHEREAS, With this victory, the New Visions: Law & Government Class
Team will move on to compete against the top teams from throughout the
other 49 states and the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., from
April 22-25, 2016; and
WHEREAS, The members of the New Visions: Law & Government Class Team,
ably guided by Instructor Richard Bader, Esq., include Julian Schlemmer,

Mutaz Ali, Alex Wilgock, Gabrielle Agostino, Morgan Daignault, Margaret
Richards, Katie Gibson, Kyle Hurysz, Mathilda Scott, Keenan Loder and
Daniel Sonthivongnorath; and
WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, these
young scholars now stand honorably, with just pride in their achievement
and in eager anticipation of future challenges, understanding and appre-
ciating the caring counsel and support provided by their teachers,
instructors, and parents; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the New Visions: Law & Government Class, a program of the
Capital Region BOCES, upon the occasion of capturing First Place in the
New York State We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competi-
tion and to offer them best wishes in the 2016 National Competition; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New Visions: Law & Government Class, and Instructor Rich-
ard Bader, Esq.