House Resolution 12

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MISS LAUREN KENNEDI OZIE DIXON ON BEING CROWNED QUEEN ILLINOIS 2017 AT THE 116TH ANNUAL BALL AND DEBUTANTE COTILLION HOSTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL ILLINOIS CLUB, INC., AND FOR HER MANY IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WHEREAS, Miss Lauren Kennedi Ozie Dixon has been selected to reign as Queen Illinois 2017 at the 116th Annual Ball and Debutante Cotillion hosted by the members of the Original Illinois Club, Inc., during the Mardi Gras season on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Alario Center in Westwego, Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, Lauren is not only the daughter of Walter Lee Dixon, who will reign as King Illinois alongside his daughter, and Dr. Persharon Dixon, but she is also the daughter of Mississippi, as her family planted its roots in this great Magnolia State long ago, and she truly embodies the ideals and characteristics of the Original Illinois Club, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, a senior at Ocean Springs High School in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Lauren excels not only in the classroom but in her extracurricular activities as well, including serving as Captain of the Varsity Cheerleading Squad, Assistant Director of the Ocean Springs High School Theatre Competition Program, President of the Youth Activation Committee, member of the Sparkle Inclusive Cheerleading Team and as Miss Fashionetta Cotillion 2016 for the Upsilon Chi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Lauren has all of the characteristics and utmost potential to rise to the forefront of this great United States of America as a powerful African-American leader, beginning with her role as a charter member of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., an organization that has taken her to the positions of Protocol Chairman, Vice President and President and to the Ann Own Gordon Oratorical Contest, where she won the state competition twice and has placed twice at the regional level of the competition; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her oratorical accolades, Lauren's time with the Jack and Jill organization has taken her across the globe, from Montego Bay, Jamaica, to Washington, D.C., and she currently serves as the Regional Teen Secretary of the South Eastern Region of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., where she provides leadership to over 8,000 teens from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, when she is not busy participating in local, regional and national teen leadership training, Lauren is also extremely dedicated to giving back and volunteering in her community, and in recognition of her selfless attitude and diligent hard work, President Barack Obama awarded her The President's Bronze Service Award, a truly elite honor for her to be proud of; and

WHEREAS, Lauren is an uniquely gifted young lady and has been endowed with a multitude of various God-given talents, and while she can excel above and beyond anyone's wildest expectations in anything she sets her mind to, some of her specialties include oratorical speaking, technical theatre work, assisting children with special needs and serving as a cheerleading instructor for elementary school children; and

WHEREAS, a natural born scholar from her youth, Lauren plans to continue furthering her education not at just any one of the many universities and colleges that gave her offers but at the highest ranked historically black college and university in the country, Spelman College, where she will pursue a degree in engineering and computer technology, undoubtedly graduating in four years with high honors and a future so bright it blinds those who look directly at it; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor the youth of Mississippi, especially those such as Miss Lauren Kennedi Ozie Dixon, who exceeds expectations with her unwavering hard work, generous volunteerism and high scholastic achievements:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Miss Lauren Kennedi Ozie Dixon on being crowned Queen Illinois 2017 at the 116th Annual Ball and Debutante Cotillion hosted by the members of the Original Illinois Club, Inc., and for her many impressive accomplishments, and express best wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Miss Lauren Kennedi Ozie Dixon and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.