LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Ashley Van Slyke upon the occasion
of receiving the distinguished Girl Scout Gold Award, the most presti-
gious of Scouting honors, on May 21, 2016

WHEREAS, Ashley Van Slyke, through her diligence and rigorous efforts,
has achieved Scouting's highest and most prestigious honor, the Girl
Scout Gold Award; she will be honored at a celebration held during the
7th Annual Meeting of Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways on Saturday, May
21, 2016, at the Carnegie Conference Center in Driver's Village in Cice-
ro, New York; and
WHEREAS, Ashley Van Slyke of Manlius, New York, is a member of Girl
Scouts of America Troop 10071; and
WHEREAS, America has achieved her greatest heights of glory through
the dedication, determination and tireless efforts of the outstanding
citizens of this Nation; and
WHEREAS, It is only with the continued diligence and devotion of our
youth, tomorrow's leaders, that America will maintain her glory; and
WHEREAS, The Girl Scouts of America and its members are dedicated to
the development of character and leadership in the youth of this Nation;
and
WHEREAS, Since 1980, Senior Girl Scouts have capped their years of
achievement in Girl Scouting with the Girl Scout Gold Award; and
WHEREAS, In order to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a girl must
fulfill five requirements; chief among them is the design and completion
of a Gold Award project; this project must build upon the interests of
the girl, provide a service to the community, and be of lasting benefit;
and
WHEREAS, Ashley Van Slyke's Gold Award project, titled "Operation
Religious Tolerance," was completed in 116 hours over a period of 13
consecutive months; and
WHEREAS, For this important project, Ashley Van Slyke created a pres-
entation about the basic principles, history and misconceptions of the
main world religions, in order to address the issue of religious intol-
erance and certain misunderstandings about religions and cultures; and
WHEREAS, Ashley's presentation included a detailed and well-researched
power point presentation, a video of interviews with local religious
leaders, and group discussion questions related to religious intoler-
ance; and
WHEREAS, Ashley Van Slyke hosted a Religious Tolerance Event on
Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the DeWitt Community Church at which she
shared her presentation with her friends, her youth group, local Girl
Scout troops, and local religious groups and leaders; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, Ashley Van Slyke sent disks with the power
point presentation, video, and discussion questions to all the religious
groups that attended her event, as well as to the NYPENN Girl Scout
Council and other churches in the State to further reach additional
youth groups; and
WHEREAS, Ashley Van Slyke's Gold Award project, which built upon her
interests in religion and interfaith dialogue, has provided an important
service to the community, proved to be of lasting benefit, and it is
worthy of the Girl Scout Gold Award; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding young woman has been involved in Scouting
for years, has lived up to Scouting's ideals and has attained all of the
necessary achievements; and
WHEREAS, Ashley Van Slyke is a credit to her family, her school, her
community, her State and her Nation, and no doubt her future will be
filled with accomplishments of equal importance; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations, in
recognition of the significance of this meritorious achievement, to
congratulate and honor Ashley Van Slyke upon the occasion of her desig-
nation as recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ashley Van Slyke.