MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2015 By: Senator(s) Burton, Butler (38th), To: Rules Carmichael, Clarke, Frazier, Hopson, Horhn, Jackson (11th), Jolly, Jackson (32nd), Montgomery, Norwood, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Stone, Watson, Wilemon SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 518 1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JASMINE 2 MURRAY OF COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI, UPON BEING CROWNED MISS 3 MISSISSIPPI 2014 AND FOR BEING THE FIRST TOP 10 FINALIST IN THE 4 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT FROM MISSISSIPPI SINCE 2006. 5 WHEREAS, Jasmine Murray, 22, of Columbus, Mississippi, was 6 crowned Miss Mississippi 2014 on Saturday, July 12, 2014, at the 7 Vicksburg Convention Center, capturing the No. 1 spot sought after 8 by a competitive field of young ladies who competed for the 9 coveted title to represent Mississippi in the Miss America 10 Pageant. The 22-year-old Columbus native competed as Miss 11 Riverland and won a $10,000 scholarship. Murray had competed in 12 the pageant three consecutive years and was First Runner-Up in 13 2012; and 14 WHEREAS, as Miss Mississippi, Jasmine represented the State 15 of Mississippi at the 94th Miss America Pageant at historic 16 Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 14, 2014, where the 17 American tradition began in 1921. Murray was the first Top 10 18 Finalist in the Miss America Pageant from Mississippi since 2006, 19 when Taryn Foshee was third-runner up. According to those who S. C. R. No. 518 *SS01/R23* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 15/SS01/R23 PAGE 1 (tb\rc) 20 attended the pageant, it was a shock that the judges didn't seem 21 to see what so much of the rest of America saw. While Miss 22 Mississippi Jasmine Murray was not in the top five at the Miss 23 America Pageant, her loyal following definitely decided she's 24 their Miss America anyway. Murray was a Quality of Life Award 25 Finalist for her platform, "13 Going On 30," which encourages 26 young girls to embrace their age and not grow up so fast; and 27 WHEREAS, Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray's platform isn't 28 just something to promote as a beauty queen and pageant winner. 29 Rather, it's something she wants to promote nationwide and 30 hopefully work with as a career. The 22-year-old Mississippi 31 State University student from Columbus said she would like to see 32 her platform "13 Going On 30: Teaching Young Girls to Embrace 33 Their Age" adopted by the Boys and Girls Club of America and used 34 on a national level; and 35 WHEREAS, named after the movie "13 Going On 30," Murray's 36 platform aims to encourage teens to find mentors and role models 37 who can help them make decisions that will keep them out of 38 trouble. Murray said she was inspired by friends who became 39 teenage mothers and had to put their dreams on hold. Through her 40 motivational camps and speaking engagements, Jasmine has reached 41 out to hundreds of young women on the subjects of peer pressure, 42 bullying and making good choices; and 43 WHEREAS, in addition to churches and civic organizations, 44 Murray has promoted her platform at Boys and Girls Club camps and S. C. R. No. 518 *SS01/R23* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 15/SS01/R23 PAGE 2 (tb\rc) 45 she would like to see the message passed along all over the state 46 and, ultimately, the nation; and 47 WHEREAS, a broadcast communications major, Murray said she 48 knows she wants to continue to chase that dream long after Miss 49 Mississippi and Miss America have passed; and 50 WHEREAS, Jasmine is best known for her run in season eight of 51 "American Idol." As a 16-year-old junior at the Mississippi 52 School of Arts in Brookhaven, she advanced to the top 13 of the 53 singing competition. During that time, many across the state and 54 South rallied behind her. She was in a similar position in the 55 Miss America Pageant and handled it with grace and humility; and 56 WHEREAS, Jasmine began to sing at age 3. "Ultimately my 57 inspiration and strength have come from my faith," she said. 58 "Music is another source of deep inspiration. It is a way of 59 communicating that everyone understands. Music is a language of 60 itself, that transcends everything"; and 61 WHEREAS, Jasmine's family includes her mother, Lisa, three 62 sisters and one brother. All of her sisters attended Mississippi 63 State University and her brother went to their rival, Ole Miss; 64 and 65 WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this young 66 Mississippi citizen who has brought honor and pride to her family, 67 community, and the entire State of Mississippi: 68 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 69 MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That S. C. R. No. 518 *SS01/R23* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 15/SS01/R23 PAGE 3 (tb\rc) 70 we do hereby commend and congratulate Jasmine Murray upon being 71 crowned Miss Mississippi 2014 and for being the first Top 10 72 Finalist in the Miss America Pageant from Mississippi since 2006 73 and extend sincerest wishes for continued success. 74 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 75 Jasmine Murray and made available to the members of the Capitol 76 Press Corps. S. C. R. No. 518 *SS01/R23* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 15/SS01/R23 ST: Commend and congratulate Jasmine Murray PAGE 4 (tb\rc) upon being crowned Miss Mississippi 2014 and as Top 10 Finalist in Atlantic City. .