Senate Concurrent Resolution 611

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING ABBY BRANDENSTEIN, A STUDENT AT BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PASCAGOULA, FOR HER SELECTION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES ART CONTEST: "PRESERVING AND ENJOYING MISSISSIPPI'S COASTAL RESOURCES."

WHEREAS, in an effort to generate an interest in and promote the awareness of the value of our coastal resources, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources held an art contest for 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Grade students in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties; and

WHEREAS, students were asked to create artwork illustrating the contest theme: "Preserving and Enjoying Mississippi's Coastal Resources"; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Marine Resources received over 1,500 entries from 33 schools. Participating schools were Anniston Avenue Elementary, Bay Waveland Middle, Cedar Lake Christian Academy, Central Elementary, Cherokee Elementary, Coast Episcopal School, Delisle Elementary, D'Iberville Elementary, D'Iberville Middle, Eastlawn Elementary, Gorenflo Elementary, Hancock North Central Elementary, Harper McCaughan Elementary, Jeff Davis Elementary, Magnolia Park Elementary, Nicholson Elementary, North Bay Elementary, North Woolmarket Elementary, North Woolmarket Middle, Oak Park Elementary, Ocean Springs Middle, Our Lady of Fatima, Pass Road Elementary, Resurrection Catholic School, South Hancock Elementary, St. James Catholic Elementary, St. Martin Center for Gifted Excellence, St. Martin Middle, St. Martin North Elementary, St. Martin Upper Elementary, Taconi Elementary, Three Rivers Elementary and Woolmarket Elementary; and

WHEREAS, the winner of the art contest was Abby Brandenstein, a student at Beach Elementary School in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her art submission appears on the cover of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources 2012 Marine Information Calendar and on the August insert; and

WHEREAS, Abby's art is an excellent impressionistic drawing of a Mississippi Blue Crab. Blue crabs have been harvested in Mississippi for hundreds of years. All along the Coast, fishermen seek out this seafood delicacy. Its genus name, Callinectes, is a combination of two Latin words meaning "beautiful swimmer," while its species name, sapidus, means "savory." Blue crabs spend a portion of their lives in the brackish water areas of the Mississippi Sound. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources manages Mississippi's crab fishery through regulations and the setting of seasons; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend this special achievement by a young Mississippian whose tribute to marine resources has brought honor to her school, her community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize Abby Brandenstein, a student at Beach Elementary School in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for winning the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Art Contest: "Preserving and Enjoying Mississippi's Coastal Resources" which appeared on the cover of the Department of Marine Resources 2012 Marine Information Calendar.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Abby and her parents, forwarded to the Principal of Beach Elementary and the Executive Director of the Department of Marine Resources, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.