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