WHEREAS it is the intention of the Mayor and Council of Cherry Hill Township to focus attention on noteworthy occasions and individuals; and

WHEREAS Rosa International Middle School students Ava Klinger, Youjin Park, Connor Reilly, Esther Tian and Darren Zhou recently competed in the National History Day Contest, held June 10-14, at the University of Maryland, College Park; and

WHEREAS these students, who were inspired by one simple sentence written in a Korean history textbook: “Young women were drafted as comfort women,” decided to produce a documentary that included a culmination of images, videos, and music that brought to life the strife of these oppressed “comfort women”; and

WHEREAS National History Day is remarkably competitive, with less than one percent of projects making it to the final round, and success requires a tremendous level of research, critical thinking skills, and creativity; and

WHEREAS we wish to extend our sincere congratulations to these inspiring students and let them know how proud the entire community is of their efforts and their accomplishment;

WHEREAS we also wish to extend special recognition to Humanities teacher Christy Marella, who founded Rosa’s National History Day Program eleven years ago; since its inception , the Rosa National History Day Team has consistently ranked among the best in the country – making it to nationals nine out of eleven years; and

WHEREAS we wish to congratulate the entire Rosa National History Day Team and wish them the best of luck in the future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHUCK CAHN, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the Township of Cherry Hill, County of Camden, State of New Jersey, do hereby wish to honor and congratulate

The Rosa International Middle School National History Day Team

in the Township of Cherry Hill and do urge all citizens to join with me and Council in congratulating this year’s National History Day Team on its achievements, and to thank the students and Mrs. Marrella for their efforts to educate our citizens by telling the uncomforting but imperative story of comfort women.