Bill Text: NY K00408 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 408 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Congratulating Sister Mary Walter Hickey upon the occasion of her retirement after 47 years of dedicated service to Notre Dame High School

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-15 - adopted [K00408 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00408-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 408

BY: M. of A. Friend

        CONGRATULATING  Sister Mary Walter Hickey upon the
        occasion  of  her  retirement  after  47  years   of
        dedicated service to Notre Dame High School

  WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of
and   publicly  acknowledge  individuals  of  remarkable  integrity  and
character whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in this
great State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
congratulate  Sister  Mary  Walter  Hickey  upon  the  occasion  of  her
retirement after 47 years of dedicated service to Notre Dame High School
to  be  celebrated with a Party in her honor on Friday, May 31, 2019, in
Elmira, New York; and

  WHEREAS, The result of many individual efforts, the  excellence  and
the  success  of  Notre  Dame  High  School  is due in large part to the
efforts of Sister Mary Walter Hickey; and

  WHEREAS, Margaret G. Hickey was born the oldest of four children  to
Walter  B.D.  and  Elizabeth Flint Hickey; with her brothers, Walter and
Jeremiah, and sister, Elizabeth (Betsy), she attended local schools  and
was  a  member  of the first graduating class at Rochester's Our Lady of
Lourdes grammar school in 1949; and

  WHEREAS, Inspired by the nuns who taught  her,  Margaret  G.  Hickey
entered the Sisters of Mercy after graduating Mercy High School in 1953,
and took the name Sister Mary Walter; and

  WHEREAS,  Sister  Mary  Walter  Hickey  attended Nazareth College of
Rochester and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she  was  named  a
1960 General Electric Fellow pursuing Economics; she received a Bachelor
of  Arts  degree  in  Philosophy  from  Siena Heights College in Adrian,
Michigan, and earned her Master of Arts degree in History from  Catholic
University  in  Washington  D.C.,  where she was inducted into the Theta
Omicron Chapter of the International Historic Honor Society; and

  WHEREAS, This extraordinary woman began her ministry  at  St.  James
School  in Irondequoit, teaching second grade before moving to St. Louis
School in Pittsford, and then to  Our  Lady  of  Mercy  High  School  in
Brighton, where she taught history, theology, and math; and

  WHEREAS, Sister Mary Walter Hickey's arrival in Elmira, New York, to
become Notre Dame High School's new Assistant Principal was preceded one
week  earlier  by  the  devastating 1972 flood; graduation was postponed
until mid-July, and the school was used as a distribution center for the
community; and

  WHEREAS, In 1975, Sister Mary Walter Hickey was named  Principal  of
Notre  Dame  High  School and remained in this position until 2008, when
the school adopted the President/Principal model of leadership  and  she
became its first President; and


  WHEREAS,   For  her  steadfast  and  unwavering  commitment  to  her
community, Sister Mary Walter Hickey has been  the  proud  recipient  of
numerous  awards  and  accolades  including  the  Twin Tiers Outstanding
Educator Award in November  of  1999,  the  Chemung  County  Chamber  of
Commerce  Athena  Award  in  December of 2005, and the Catherine McAuley
Award in October of 2007; and

  WHEREAS, Sister Mary Walter Hickey has truly dedicated her  life  to
leading  Catholic  Education  efforts in the Southern Tier, touching the
lives of thousands of young adults, faculty  members  and  parents;  her
legacy  will  continue  to  grow well into the future as Notre Dame High
School expands and builds on the solid foundation she has built; and

  WHEREAS, A caring,  competent  and  committed  leader,  Sister  Mary
Walter  Hickey's  character  and integrity are the hallmarks of her life
and work as an educational  leader,  a  community  volunteer  and  as  a
person; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Elmira  community  is indeed fortunate and blessed to
have had such a dedicated and respected educational leader;  her  wisdom
and   contributions   reached  into  every  classroom,  truly  making  a
difference in the lives of those lucky enough to have worked  with  her;
and

  WHEREAS,  A  significant contributor to education in New York State,
Sister Mary Walter Hickey has  continually  demonstrated  an  impressive
dedication,  an  unparalleled devotion and an unremitting enthusiasm for
the quality of the educational programs  and  opportunities  offered  at
Notre  Dame  High School for the benefit of its faculty and students, as
well as for the entire community; and

  WHEREAS, In completing  her  service  as  President  and  Principal,
Sister  Mary  Walter  Hickey  leaves  behind  more  than mere bricks and
mortar; she leaves behind a legacy to the students of  Notre  Dame  High
School  and to the residents of the Elmira community; now, therefore, be
it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
congratulate  Sister  Mary  Walter  Hickey  upon  the  occasion  of  her
retirement after 47 years  of  dedicated  service  to  Notre  Dame  High
School; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Sister Mary Walter Hickey.