TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE BROOKE MOSTELLER OF MOUNT PLEASANT ON HER REIGN AS MISS SOUTH CAROLINA 2013 AND ON HER PERFORMANCE AT THE MISS AMERICA 2014 COMPETITION AND TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR HER SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO BENEFIT THE PROSPERITY AND ECONOMY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina commend the work of Mount Pleasant native Brooke Mosteller on her reign as Miss South Carolina 2013; and

Whereas, Ms. Mosteller competed in the Miss America 2014 competition on September 15, 2013 where she was named "Miss Congeniality", received first runner-up in the "Quality of Life" award for her GO HIGHER: College Application Day platform, won the "Miracle Maker" award for the most funds ever raised for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals by any Miss America contestant in the pageant's ninety-three year history, and earned the Silver Duke of Edinburgh merit award; and

Whereas, Ms. Mosteller, who competed as Miss Mount Pleasant, won the Miss South Carolina title on July 13, 2013 at the Miss South Carolina competition in Columbia, South Carolina; and

Whereas, Ms. Mosteller's GO HIGHER. platform, of which she is the founding student, is now in 183 South Carolina high schools, where over 40,000 seniors applied to college through the initiative during the fall of 2013, giving special emphasis to helping those students who have never had family members apply and attend college; and

Whereas, Ms. Mosteller attended Furman University and while a student, she was a three-year Dean's List laureate, she was one of fifteen female juniors at Furman to receive the 2011 Senior Order for their academic excellence and leadership, and in 2012, she received the Political Science Faculty Choice Award, annually given to three Furman seniors with exemplary commitment to the political science department; and

Whereas, this talented student proved her prowess on the athletic field as well when she took the Southern Conference 5k championship for outdoor track in 2010 in only the second race of her life. During her collegiate career, she set school records in the 5k and steeplechase and was named Southern Conference Track Athlete of the Week in April 2012; and

Whereas, she lettered in tennis as well as track at Furman after posting second and third status on the Wando High School state championship tennis team in the AAAA division; and

Whereas, Ms. Mosteller was crowned Furman's Homecoming Queen, a title which her mother also held; and

Whereas, Ms. Mosteller is currently a law student at the University of South Carolina School of Law; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate appreciates the successful efforts of Brooke Mosteller to benefit the prosperity of our citizens and the welfare of our State's economy. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate Brooke Mosteller on her reign as Miss South Carolina 2013 and on her performance at the Miss America 2014 competition.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Brooke Mosteller.