LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Ryan Devanandan upon the occasion
of winning the 2013 Capital Region Spelling Bee

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commend and pay
tribute to those young people who, by achieving outstanding success in
educational competition, have inspired and brought pride to our majestic
Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Ryan Devanandan upon the occasion of winning the 2013 Capital
Region Spelling Bee on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at Proctor's Theatre in
Schenectady, New York; and
WHEREAS, 13-year-old Ryan Devanandan is an eighth grade student at
Sand Creek Middle School in the South Colonie School district; and
WHEREAS, The astute young scholar won by correctly spelling prevari-
cate, defeating 117 of the best spellers in the region; in winning, Ryan
Devanandan has earned the honor of representing the entire Capital
Region when he competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washing-
ton DC this spring; and
WHEREAS, For his impressive accomplishment, Ryan Devanandan received
several prizes, including a paid trip for him and a chaperone to the
Nationals, a laptop, Webster's Third New International Dictionary, a
one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, a special gift
pack from Proctor's Theatre, and the Samuel L. Sugarman Award--a 2013
U.S. Mint proof set; and
WHEREAS, Ryan Devanandan is a highly motivated and multifaceted
student whose interests and talents include programming, mathematics,
playing violin, guitar, and piano, and composing songs; he is currently
taking an online advanced placement statistics course and studying, on
his own, such subjects as tensor calculus; and
WHEREAS, The annual Capital Region Spelling Bee, now in its 31st year,
draws contestants from grades 4-8 and under the age of 16 from 62 school
districts and charter and parochial schools who have all won in their
respective districts; and
WHEREAS, Ryan Devanandan, in achieving this high honor, may take just
pride in the inspiration and contribution to the spirit of excellence he
brings to his family, friends, school and region; and
WHEREAS, Educational competitions which serve to better prepare our
students for their future participation in the marketplace of ideas are
worthy of praise and support; and
WHEREAS, Poised with enthusiasm and determined purpose, this scholar
now stands honorably, in eager anticipation of future challenges, under-
standing and appreciating the caring counsel and support provided by his
teachers and parents; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Ryan Devanandan upon the occasion of winning the 2013 Capi-
tal Region Spelling Bee; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ryan Devanandan.