Senate Concurrent Resolution 554

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING LAURA LEE LEWIS OF BROOKHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI, UPON BEING CROWNED MISS MISSISSIPPI 2016 AND AS THE FOURTH RUNNER-UP IN THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2016.

WHEREAS, Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis was the Fourth Runner-Up in the Miss America Pageant on Sunday, September 11, 2016. Laura Lee was the third contestant from Mississippi to place in the Top 10 Finalist in the Miss America Pageant since 2006; and

WHEREAS, the Brookhaven, Mississippi, native, an elementary education major, is a President's List Scholar at Mississippi State University. Laura was Miss Dixie when she was crowned Miss Mississippi 2016 in June; and

WHEREAS, during the Miss America Talent Competition, it appeared when Lewis hit the final line in her song "A Piece of Sky" that says, "Just watch me fly," she knew she had a good chance of winning; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi State student and Brookhaven High School graduate built her platform on "Mentoring Matters" which encourages mentoring in the lives of young people. Lewis says it was her high school principal who ultimately gave her the leadership and courage she needed to overcome the perils of teenhood and to grow into a strong woman who knows her worth. She credits the Miss America Organization for giving her the confidence in herself that she needed to compete as she got older; and

WHEREAS, before her Miss Mississippi achievement, Laura Lee was active in her community promoting her personal platform, H.E.R.O. - Encouraging Children to Make Good Choices. Laura Lee developed four guidelines to help youth remember how to be like the superheroes, by using the word "HERO":

H Honor your parents, be honorable, and most of all honor yourself;

E Excel in everything you do;

R Reach for goals;

O Overcome obstacles through positive actions/reactions; and

WHEREAS, the other inspiration Laura Lee freely talks about is her hometown. "Brookhaven will always be home," she said, and she knew that she had the full support of her hometown people when her name was called for Fourth Runner-Up in the Miss America Pageant, and "The moment I was crowned Miss Mississippi, I heard the cheers, and I knew that was Brookhaven and all the people who have loved me throughout these years. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate them because they believed in me, and here I am their Miss Mississippi, and I'm so excited to represent Brookhaven as Miss Mississippi and now to represent Mississippi, at the Miss America Pageant"; and

WHEREAS, Laura Lee is the daughter of Mark and Lorin Lewis of Brookhaven and the niece of former Secretary of the Senate Tressa Guynes, and it is with great pride that we recognize this young Mississippi citizen who has brought honor to her community and to the entire 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 Laura Lee Lewis of Brookhaven, Mississippi, upon being crowned Miss Mississippi 2016 and as the Fourth Runner-Up in the Miss America Pageant on September 11, 2016.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Laura Lee Lewis and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.