Commending Mercy University upon the occasion of hosting its 45th Annual Trustees' Scholarship Gala on April 30, 2026

Senate Resolution No. 1974

BY: Senator PARKER

        COMMENDING  Mercy  University upon the occasion of
        hosting its 45th Annual Trustees'  Scholarship  Gala
        on April 30, 2026

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay  tribute  to  those  institutions  of  high   purpose   and   worthy
accomplishment  whose enduring commitment to access, excellence, and the
transformation of students' lives has enriched the educational and civic
life of the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commend Mercy University upon the occasion of hosting  its  45th  Annual
Trustees' Scholarship Gala on Thursday, April 30, 2026; and

  WHEREAS,  Mercy  University,  founded  in  1950 and headquartered in
Dobbs Ferry, New York, with additional campuses  in  Manhattan  and  the
Bronx,  stands  as one of the most mission-driven institutions of higher
education in the State of New York,  committed  to  providing  motivated
students  with an affordable, high-quality education regardless of their
background or circumstance; and

  WHEREAS, As the largest private Hispanic-Serving Institution in  New
York  State  and  a  federally  designated Minority-Serving Institution,
Mercy  University  has  long  understood  that  the  transformation   of
communities  begins  with  the  transformation  of individuals, and that
access to a rigorous, supportive education is among  the  most  powerful
instruments of social and economic justice available to our society; and

  WHEREAS,  Mercy  University serves more than 8,500 undergraduate and
graduate students representing 40 states and 51 countries, offering more
than 100 degree and  certificate  programs  designed  to  meet  students
wherever they are and carry them to where they aspire to be; and

  WHEREAS,   The   Annual  Trustees'  Scholarship  Gala  represents  a
cornerstone of Mercy University's commitment to ensuring that  financial
barriers  do  not  stand  between  talented,  driven  students  and  the
education they deserve, raising critical  funds  that  directly  support
scholarships  for  students who might otherwise not be able to access or
complete their education; and

  WHEREAS, Now in its 45th year, the Trustees' Scholarship Gala stands
as a testament to the enduring generosity of the university's supporters
and the far-reaching impact of scholarship investment, a legacy that has
shaped the professional and personal trajectories of generations of  New
Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  proudly  moved to honor Mercy
University, its trustees, faculty, staff,  and  students,  who  together
embody the conviction that a great education is not a privilege reserved
for  the few but a foundation to which every New Yorker deserves access;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  Mercy  University  upon the occasion of hosting its 45th Annual
Trustees' Scholarship Gala and to extend congratulations on 45 years  of
investing  in  the educational futures of New York's students; and be it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the  leadership,  trustees,  and  members  of  the  Mercy
University  community,  in  recognition of their steadfast commitment to
educational access, excellence, and opportunity for all.