2017 -- S 0936

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LC002843

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING LEINNI AND LISBETH VALDEZ FOR OVERCOMING DIFFICULT

CIRCUMSTANCES TO EXCEL IN ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Metts, Felag, Miller, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: June 06, 2017

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Twin sisters Leinni and Lisbeth Valdez have overcome numerous obstacles

and tragedies to blaze a path of excellence and achievement in their lives. They have not allowed

family misfortune and unfair circumstances to stop them from excelling in life; and

     WHEREAS, Leinni and Lisbeth Valdez were born in Puerto Rico and moved to the

Domincan Republic and then Florida, by the age of nine. During their young lives, they attended

ten different schools. When they arrived in Florida, they spoke no English and despite earning

"A" grades in class, had to be held back. Instead of giving up or making excuses, they became

more determined to succeed. In the words of Lisbeth, "I was so embarrassed………I ignored the

kids who teased us. Even though it was hard to accept the fact that I was held back, I see that it

was worth it. They made the right decision because I learned to challenge myself and, since that

moment, I haven’t stopped challenging myself"; and

     WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, the twins had to face more tragedy when their mother

was diagnosed with breast cancer. Additionally, their father had left the family and for six

months, they lived in a homeless shelter with their younger sister. Despite these hurdles, the twins

made no excuses. They attended school every day and excelled both in the classroom and in

athletics; and

     WHEREAS, Through hard work and sheer determination, Leinni and Lisbeth developed

into star middle distance runners, earning numerous All-State honors. Hope High School Head

Track Coach Thom Spann said of these young women, "In my thirty-four years at Hope High

School, they are the top ladies I’ve ever coached"; and

     WHEREAS, Leinni and Lisbeth also poured their abundant determination into their

studies. In the summers, they took special chemistry classes at Central High School and were

once seen biking to class down Cranston Street in the pouring rain. Recently, while still in high

school, they enrolled in two college classes at the Community College of Rhode Island and Roger

William University, and earned 4.0 Grade Point Averages. Lisbeth has been named class

valedictorian while her sister Leinni finished third in her senior class; and

     WHEREAS, Leinni and Lisbeth have applied to twenty-three colleges and have been

accepted by approximately twelve of them, including receiving $57,000 in scholarship money

from Brandeis University. Leinni and Lisbeth have served as an inspirational force for countless

people. Their grace and humble countenance combined with their resolve and tenacity will surely

lead to big achievements in the future; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby honors Leinni and

Lisbeth Valdez for overcoming difficult circumstances to excel in academics and athletics and we

wish them further success in college and all future endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Leinni Valdez and Lisbeth Valdez.

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