Senate Concurrent Resolution 619

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE SARAH ALEXIS KEIWANNA BROWN ON HER SELECTION AS MISS JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-2013.

WHEREAS, Sarah Alexis Keiwanna Brown, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, is the 21-year-old daughter of Ms. Jawanaday Kay Blue. A Senior General Physics Major, she was chosen by her peers to represent the University as Miss Jackson State University in a campus-wide election held during the 2012 spring academic semester; and

WHEREAS, Sarah matriculated through the Jackson Public School district where she attended Timberlawn Elementary, Siwell Road Middle School and Forest Hill High School. A 2009 honors graduate of Forest Hill High School, Sarah was actively involved in campus life. Her quest for academics garnered her distinction of being named a Forest Hill High School Hall of Fame inductee. One can also say that Sarah began her quest toward her "Crown of Royalty" during her high school matriculation; she was elected Miss Sophomore Class, Miss Junior Class, Homecoming Queen in 2008 and Miss Forest Hill High School in 2009. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Who's Who Among American High Schools and received the NAACP Public Speaking Award; and

WHEREAS, while enrolled at Jackson State as an honor student, Sarah has engaged in many campus activities. She is a member of the Meteorology Club, where she serves as Vice President, JSU Society of Physics, Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She was selected as Miss Residence Hall Association 2011-2012 and was voted Miss Congeniality 2011-2012 representing the Delta Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. To add to her academic accolades, for the past two summers, Sarah has been selected to represent Jackson State University and study Astrophysics at the University of California at Berkeley in Berkeley, California. She has been selected by Penn State as a Future Geoscientists for a Sustainable Earth Environment (FGSEE) Scholarship recipient and is one of the first student apprentices to study under the Mississippi Academy for Science Teachers Program at Jackson State. She will also travel to New York this fall and represent Jackson State University as a Thurgood Marshall Scholar; and

WHEREAS, in her community, Sarah tutors students at Whitten Middle School in math and science once a week and serves as a

dedicated volunteer at Stewpot Community Services. For the past four years, Sarah has worked at Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home as a Funeral Director. One of Sarah's most notable accomplishments is that during the summer of 2010, she made history as being the first African-American to serve as a Missionary at Eagle Rock Christian Camp in Nashville, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, as Miss Jackson State University, Sarah has chosen a platform of "Think BIG." The goal of "Think BIG" is to produce BIGGER Service, BIGGER the Impact and BIGGER Success for Jackson State University and surrounding community by providing resources that will help increase graduation rates, preparing our students for post baccalaureate tests and providing mentorship to all students while hosting public service forums; and

WHEREAS, Sarah thanks and gives God credit for her successes and knows that she can accomplish anything because it is Him that strengthens her and makes all things possible, and it is with great pride that we recognize this wonderful example for Mississippi citizens who has brought honor to her university, 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 commend and congratulate Sarah Alexis Keiwanna Brown upon her selection as Miss Jackson State University 2012-2013 and extend our best wishes to Sarah and her family on this high honor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Sarah, forwarded to the President of Jackson State University, Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.