LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Quentin Rodriguez, Zatasia Gardner,
Jayde Snyder and Abigail Wilcox upon the occasion of their designation
as winners of the 2015 Black History Month Essay Contest

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those outstand-
ing students who foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural
diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York
State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Quentin
Rodriguez, Zatasia Gardner, Jayde Snyder and Abigail Wilcox upon the
occasion of their designation as winners of the 2015 Black History Month
Essay Contest; and
WHEREAS, Black American History is highlighted during the month of
February so that there can be formal recognition of the fact that the
history of the United States is a vast mosaic which incorporates the
history of Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Black Americans, as
well as a number of other ethnic and cultural groups; and
WHEREAS, It is extremely important that students, when learning of the
history of the United States, understand that the histories of all its
peoples are important, and they must be considered together in order to
fully understand our shared heritage; and
WHEREAS, It is also extremely important that our students understand
not only the facts and dates which make American history, but, addi-
tionally, the means by which these facts relate to and impact our lives;
and
WHEREAS, Quentin Rodriguez, Zatasia Gardner, Jayde Snyder and Abigail
Wilcox are the 2015 Black History Month Essay Contest Winners, a contest
which furthers these goals of understanding; and
WHEREAS, A 4th grade student at Theodore Roosevelt School No. 43 in
Rochester, New York, Quentin Rodriguez earned this high honor for his
essay on President Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, A 5th grade student at Dr. Walter Cooper Academy School No.
10 in Rochester, New York, Zatasia Gardner earned this high honor for
her essay on Dr. Walter Cooper; and
WHEREAS, A 6th grade student at Flower City School No. 54 in Roches-
ter, New York, Jayde Snyder earned this high honor for her essay on the
Emancipation Proclamation; and
WHEREAS, A 7th grade student at the School of the Arts in Rochester,
New York, Abigail Wilcox earned this high honor for her essay on the
march from Selma to Montgomery; and
WHEREAS, These esteemed students so clearly mirror those qualities of
fortitude and constancy which define the essence of the Black experi-
ence, and give to the tenor and matrix of its composition, that indis-
pensable sense of unity which so distinguishes their families; and
WHEREAS, Through their personal and sustained commitment to Black
History, Quentin Rodriguez, Zatasia Gardner, Jayde Snyder and Abigail
Wilcox have so unselfishly advanced that spirit of united purpose and
shared concern which is the unalterable manifestation of our American
experience; and
WHEREAS, It is their concern for the perception of Black History as a
sharing and united endeavor which recommends Quentin Rodriguez, Zatasia
Gardner, Jayde Snyder and Abigail Wilcox for special commendation; and
WHEREAS, With their sense of civic pride and their desire to achieve,
Quentin Rodriguez, Zatasia Gardner, Jayde Snyder and Abigail Wilcox
represent the best development of the potential which is inherent in our
most precious resource, our youth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and
most joyously commend Quentin Rodriguez, Zatasia Gardner, Jayde Snyder
and Abigail Wilcox upon the occasion of their designation as winners of
the 2015 Black History Month Essay Contest, fully confident that such
procedure mirrors our shared commitment to preserve, to enhance, and to
effect that patrimony of freedom, justice and equality which is our
American Heritage; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Quentin Rodriguez, Zatasia Gardner, Jayde Snyder and Abigail
Wilcox.