H*4790 Concurrent Resolution, By J.H. Neal, Allen, Allison, Altman, Askins, 
Bales, Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, 
R. Brown, Campsen, Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, 
Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, Emory, 
Fleming, Freeman, Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, 
Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, 
Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Koon, Law, Leach, 
Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, Mack, Martin, McCraw, 
McGee, McLeod, Meacham-Richardson, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.M. Neal, 
Neilson, Ott, D. Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Riser, 
Rivers, Robinson, Rodgers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Sharpe, 
Sheheen, Simrill, Sinclair, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, J.E. Smith, 
J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Snow, Stille, Stuart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, 
Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Weeks, Whatley, Whipper, White, 
Wilder, Wilkins, Witherspoon, A. Young and J. Young
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE VANESSA ALEXANDRA MENDOZA, OF UNGUIA,
 CHOCO, COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA, UPON WINNING THE COVETED CROWN AND TITLE OF
 "MISS COLOMBIA" IN THE 2001-2002 MISS COLOMBIA BEAUTY PAGEANT, TO ESPECIALLY
 COMMEND HER ON BEING THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BECOME "MISS COLOMBIA", AND TO
 WISH HER EVERY SUCCESS IN ALL OF HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   02/21/02  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-45
   02/21/02  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-11

TO CONGRATULATE VANESSA ALEXANDRA MENDOZA, OF UNGUIA, CHOCO, COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA, UPON WINNING THE COVETED CROWN AND TITLE OF "MISS COLOMBIA" IN THE 2001-2002 MISS COLOMBIA BEAUTY PAGEANT, TO ESPECIALLY COMMEND HER ON BEING THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BECOME "MISS COLOMBIA", AND TO WISH HER EVERY SUCCESS IN ALL OF HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, Miss Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza, a native of Unguia, Choco, Colombia, recently won the coveted crown and title of "Miss Colombia" in the 2001-2002 "Miss Colombia" Beauty Pageant; and

Whereas, Miss Mendoza is the first black woman to ever win the crown and title of "Miss Colombia" in the annual beauty pageant competition for the title and crown of "Miss Colombia"; and

Whereas, Miss Mendoza, twenty years of age, was born in Unguia, Choco, an impoverished region on the Pacific coast of Colombia, South America, with a population of 14,500 black inhabitants; and

Whereas, Miss Mendoza lost her father at the age of twelve and grew up without many of the daily necessities. She did without or rarely saw commodities others take for granted: electricity, milk, meat, and shoes. Yet, she did the best she could with what she had and taking advantage of every opportunity offered, she worked hard to complete her education at an agricultural school in her area; and

Whereas, Miss Mendoza graduated from her high school in Cartagena and later moved to Apartado to work for a lawyer as a legal secretary. She began her quest for the coveted "Miss Colombia" crown by entering a beauty pageant. She was first crowned Queen from her local area; and

Whereas, later, the townspeople in Unguia gathered nine hundred dollars to enable Miss Mendoza to participate in the Miss Colombia Pageant. After winning her state level competition, Miss Mendoza moved on to compete in the national level competition, where she won the coveted crown and title of "Miss Colombia" for 2001-2002; and

Whereas, through her own hard work and dedication to her friends, neighbors, and the townspeople of Unguia and Colombia, Miss Mendoza has been able to provide residential electricity for more than one hour a day. She willingly participates in charitable activities and is more than willing to work with opposing forces in her country for the peace and the betterment of all people of Colombia; and

Whereas, in recognition of her devotion and service to her country a postal stamp has been commemorated in her honor, a neighborhood named after her, and with her prize money, she hopes to help her siblings attend school in Medellin. She is a source of pride to her country and to all who recognize her accomplishment and revere the courage it takes to overcome obstacles. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, congratulate Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza, of Unguia, Choco, Colombia, upon winning the coveted crown and title of "Miss Colombia" in the 2001-2002 Miss Colombia beauty pageant, to especially commend her on being the first black woman to become "Miss Colombia", and to wish her every success in all of her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Miss Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza, of Unguia, Choco, Colombia.