Senate Concurrent Resolution 588

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING SUNNY LOGAN ON BEING SELECTED AS THE 2017 STATE GAMES OF MISSISSIPPI AT&T YOUTH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, based on the national program, the State Games of Mississippi established the annual "Athlete of the Year" Award to recognize Mississippi's amateur athletes. Coaches, officials, athletes, volunteers, and spectators nominated one male and one female athlete from each of the 37 sports for the award. The nominated athletes personify the ideals of the State Games movement, such as participation, sportsmanship, special attributes, achievements, efforts, and positive attitudes; and

WHEREAS, thirteen-year-old Sunny Logan was undefeated in the 2017 State Games, an attitude she brought to her battle with Burkitt's Lymphoma, a rare cancer of the lymph nodes. Diagnosed at the age of 10, Sunny faced the disease head-on at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, where breakthrough medicine has pushed survival rates to 90 percent for the type of cancer Logan suffered from. In 2017, Sunny was the G14 Sweet 16 Champion, and the G12/G14 Candy Classic Champion in both 2016 and 2017. Also in 2017, Sunny was the Girl Singles 4-A Champion; and

WHEREAS, Sunny was featured on the "Today" show for her courageous battle with cancer. On the show, she talked about meeting Maria Sharapova. "We had been talking about her all day," Sunny told Matt Lauer live on Today. "I was hitting some serves and I turn around, and there she is, I was just speechless. I did not know what to do!"; and

WHEREAS, this year, the State Games are honoring athletes from 37 sports from the 2017 State Games of Mississippi. From these 37 athletes, only three are chosen to receive the honor of "Athlete of the Year." The chosen "Athletes of the Year" will visit the State Capitol in Jackson, where the Governor will bestow them with a recognition of their achievement and they will have the honor and fame of lighting the torch at the 2018 State Games of Mississippi Opening Ceremonies. The State Games keeps its entry fees low primarily through the generous donations of sponsors, including Founding Gold Sponsor: Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Rush Hospital; and Gold Sponsors: AT&T, BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians/Pearl River Resort, Meridian-Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau/Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, Structural Steel, WTOK-TV, The Meridian Star and WMDN/WGBC-TV; and

WHEREAS, Sunny Logan is an excellent role model for a balanced and healthy lifestyle. She is the perfect example of fitness and dedication that the State Games of Mississippi promotes, and it is with great pride that we recognize this Mississippi citizen who has brought honor to her community and state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Sunny Logan on being selected as the 2017 State Games of Mississippi AT&T Youth Athlete of the Year, and extend best wishes to Sunny, her family and sponsors on this honor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Sunny Logan and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.