S*0829 Concurrent Resolution, By Setzler
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING JACKIE MOORE McNEILL OF LEXINGTON
 COUNTY ON BEING NAMED "MS. SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR".

   05/19/99  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-8
   05/20/99  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-4

CONGRATULATING JACKIE MOORE McNEILL OF LEXINGTON COUNTY ON BEING NAMED "MS. SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR".

Whereas, Jackie Moore McNeill of West Columbia, Lexington County, won the Ms. South Carolina Senior competition held on Sunday, March 21, 1999, at Tillman Hall at Winthrop University. Nine contestants competed in five categories - talent, interview, philosophy of life, stage presence, and statement response. Ms. McNeill performed a vocal solo - a Broadway medley based on the saying "Cherish Yesterday, Live Today, and Dream Tomorrow". Ms. McNeill competed as "Ms. Central Midlands", a title she had previously won in competition sponsored by the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission in November, 1998. She will represent the State of South Carolina in the national Ms. America Senior Competition which will be held in Wilmington, Delaware in September, 1999; and

Whereas, in 1994, Jackie McNeill retired from Lexington County School District Two, where she had served as Fine Arts Consultant since 1979. Prior to becoming an arts consultant, she had taught choral music in Lexington Two, Lexington County School District One, and Richland County School District One; and

Whereas, she has served as President of the South Carolina Music Educators Association, Chair of the South Carolina Alliance for Arts Education, and a member of the South Carolina Arts Alliance Board of Directors. She has been a member of the Arts in the Basic Curriculum Steering Committee since its inception and was directly involved in the development of the Arts in Basic Curriculum educational plan which has been adopted as the focus for arts education in South Carolina; and

Whereas, in retirement she continues her professional involvement as editor of the South Carolina Musician (professional publication of South Carolina Music Educators Association), board member of South Carolina Arts Alliance, South Carolina Alliance for Arts Education, and University of South Carolina School of Music "Friends". She is President of the South Carolina Chapter of Partners of the Americas and is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teachers Sorority and the South Carolina Education Association. She is also active in several volunteer groups, including Cooperative Ministries and the Meals on Wheels program; and

Whereas, awards she has received include: Induction into the South Carolina Music Educators Hall of Fame (1994); Lifetime Achievement Award, University of South Carolina School of Music (1997); and West Columbia/Cayce Citizen of the Year (1987); and

Whereas, as a performer she has sung leading roles in both operatic and Broadway musical productions with five local companies. She has been soloist with the Columbia Choral Society, Carolina Chorale, and the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra. She is presently a member of the Columbia Choral Society and is soloist/choir director at the Tree of Life Congregation in Columbia; and

Whereas, she is a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church in West Columbia, where she has served as music director for twenty years and is presently on the Church Council and Nurture Committee; and

Whereas, she has three children, three step-children, and fifteen grandchildren and is married to Dr. Charles McNeill, Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina; and

Whereas, Jackie McNeill is a truly outstanding citizen and is highly deserving of recognition. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, congratulate Jackie Moore McNeill of Lexington County on being named "Ms. South Carolina Senior".

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Ms. McNeill.