LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the InvenTeam from Berlin High
School upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant on October 14, 2015

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor the youth of
today, and leaders of tomorrow, whose character and achievements exem-
plify the ideals and values cherished by this great State and Nation;
and
WHEREAS, It is also the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize
the dedication and commitment of our young people who distinguish them-
selves through excellence in science and academic competition; 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 inventors from Berlin High School upon the occasion of their
designation as recipients of the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant; and
WHEREAS, On Wednesday, October 14, 2015, Lemelson-MIT announced Berlin
High School was one of only 14 schools nationwide that would receive up
to $10,000 each in grant funding as part of its 2015-2016 InvenTeam
initiative to inspire young people to solve real-world problems through
invention; and
WHEREAS, InvenTeams were selected across the Nation from technology
schools, magnet schools and an all-girls school; and
WHEREAS, The InvenTeam initiative aims to inspire a new generation of
inventors by engaging students in creative thinking, problem-solving and
hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM); and
WHEREAS, Berlin High School's InvenTeam consists of ninth graders,
Greta Herman and Melanie DeLaurentis; 10th graders, Amanda Despart,
Domnika Popov, and Giannah French; 11th graders, Samantha Hebert and
Christina Shupe; and 12th graders, Emma Woolley and Laura Ryder; and
WHEREAS, The scientific talent displayed by this team is due in great
part to the efforts of their Technology Teacher, Dawn Wetmore, a skilled
and inspirational tutor, respected for her ability to develop potential
into excellence; and
WHEREAS, Under Dawn Wetmore's tutelage, students from Berlin High
School have made quite a splash on the regional and national stage when
it comes to ingenuity; in 2010-11, students won a similar Lemelson-MIT
grant to develop an alert device for hearing impaired athletes; and
WHEREAS, Last school year, a device Dawn Wetmore's students developed
to warn parents when their children approach a roadway was selected as
the New York State winner of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest,
earning their school a $20,000 technology grant; and
WHEREAS, All of the InvenTeams chosen for 2015-16 are working on
inventions which address problems they have recognized in their local
communities and those with global impact; Berlin High School's team will
use their grant to develop a prototype they designed to give individuals
with limited mobility the ability to toss and retrieve an item; and
WHEREAS, Their innovative device is comprised of three components, a
control console that can be easily attached to the arms of a wheelchair,
a robotic rolling chassis, and a mechanical arm; the control console
contains a joystick control for the robot chassis, a separate joystick
control for the mechanical arm, and a lever launch mechanism that, when
struck, will launch a bean bag or a small ball in a forward trajectory
and will automatically reset for subsequent launches; and
WHEREAS, The mechanical arm is mounted onto the robot chassis, which
together will allow the user to pilot the arm over to the launched item,
pick it up, and retrieve it using the joystick controls; and

WHEREAS, Educational competitions which serve to better prepare our
students for their future participation in the marketplace of ideas are
worthy of praise and support; and
WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, these
inventors now stand honorably, with just pride in their accomplishments
and in eager anticipation of future challenges, understanding and appre-
ciating the caring counsel and support provided by their teachers and
parents; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the InvenTeam from Berlin High School upon the occasion of
their designation as recipients of the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant on
October 14, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members of the Berlin High School InvenTeam and Teacher,
Dawn Wetmore.