Senate Resolution No. 1519

BY: Senator PHILLIPS

COMMENDING Emma Hakimian upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition by the Jewish
Community Relations Council at the Annual Holocaust
Remembrance Day Commemoration on April 27, 2017

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those young people within the great Empire State who have
made strong contributions to their communities and who serve as role
models for their peers; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Emma Hakimian upon the occasion of her designation for special
recognition by the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Annual
Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration to be held on Thursday, April
27, 2017, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York; and

WHEREAS, Holocaust Remembrance Day, known in Hebrew as Yom HaShoah,
is a day set aside for remembering the victims of the Holocaust and for
reminding New Yorkers, all Americans, and people around the world of
what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred and
indifference reign; and

WHEREAS, At this auspicious event, Emma Hakimian will be recognized
for her diligent work in creating a more civil society for the citizens
of not only Nassau County, but the entire State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Emma Hakimian is a student at Great Neck North High School
in Great Neck, New York; last June, she attended senior prom taking
pictures, dancing and eating with a group of people she loves and whose
friendships she cherishes; through her membership in a club called Best
Pals, Emma came to know the students in North High's Academic and Career
Exploration (ACE) Program; this program consists of students with severe
special education needs, many of whom have a difficult time socializing;
and

WHEREAS, In order to help make their prom more memorable, Emma
Hakimian assisted these students with navigating the night, lining up
for pictures, and getting their food with them; at the end of the
evening she piled into the limousine to go with them for ice cream and
help round out the evening; and

WHEREAS, Working with individuals who have disabilities holds a soft
spot in Emma Hakimian's heart; growing up she watched her brother
struggle to complete typical developmental tasks and has seen her
parents try and deal with the hardships that come when a child has a
disability; all of these things have crystallized in her a desire to
work with those who have special needs; and

WHEREAS, Emma Hakimian herself is a student who works tirelessly to
achieve her goals and never gives up; her 3rd grade teacher saw in her
such dedication that she bestowed on her the nickname "The Little Engine
That Could"; and


WHEREAS, Through her incredible work ethic, Emma Hakimian has
learned not just the content she needs, but more importantly how to
learn and study; seeing how others naturally gravitate to her, North
High's faculty selected her to serve as both a Peer Mentor as well as a
Peer Leader; Peer Mentoring paired Emma with an at-risk middle school
student and Peer Leadership allowed Emma to serve as a role model
through the Advisory program working with a group of students; and

WHEREAS, Emma Hakimian is a credit to her family, school, community,
and her State and Nation, and it is certain that her future will be
filled with accomplishments of equal importance; and

WHEREAS, With her sense of civic duty and her commitment to others,
Emma Hakimian represents 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 to
commend Emma Hakimian upon the occasion of her designation for special
recognition by the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Annual
Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Emma Hakimian.