Senate Concurrent Resolution 569

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD MEGAN HEGGIE ON BEING SELECTED AS THE 2018 STATE GAMES OF MISSISSIPPI AT&T OVERALL 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, fourteen-year-old Megan Heggie of Meridian, Mississippi, has broken or set many team records in her age group, as well as the open age group, having a time better than previous Mississippi Swim Association swimmers who are older. She has a total of 13 new records in the 13-14 girls age group, and has achieved a total of 17 top-five times in all of the different swim strokes. She received the Meridian Swimming Association (MSA) Coaches' Award in 2018 and was the First-P1ace High-Point Winner of the swim season, scoring more than 1,000 points. She also won "Most Improved Female Swimmer" for the team for the seventh year in a row. This award is given to the swimmer who cuts the most time off during the swim season at any meet. Not only will she have the honor of running the torch at the 2019 State Games of Mississippi, Megan already had the honor to be a Flag-Bearer for the State Games of America in 2017 at the Opening Ceremony in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Megan's parents are Wade and Erica Heggie and she attends Meridian Christian Home Educators; and

WHEREAS, this year, the State Games are honoring athletes from 37 sports in the 2018 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 upon them a recognition of their achievement and they will have the honor and fame of lighting the torch at the 2019 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, Megan Heggie 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 Megan Heggie on being selected as the 2018 State Games of Mississippi AT&T Overall Youth Athlete of the Year, and extend best wishes to Megan Heggie, her family and sponsors on this honor.

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