A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, To honor and commend the students and staff that participated in the 2020 Human Rights Day Essay Contest.

WHEREAS, the 2020 Human Rights Day Essay Contest is open to 7th and 8th graders in Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, and Tea to recognize the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person; and

WHEREAS, these students represent the future generation and the good nature of the great state of South Dakota. Through exceptional writing, these students wrote about their own actions as they cared for others within their community, whether the local or world community, emphasizing that in our own exercise of rights and freedoms, we must also respect the rights and freedoms of others; and

WHEREAS, the 7th grade winner, Naomi Jesperson of Edison Middle School wrote Human Rights: A Simple Act of Service, and the 7th grade runners up were Julia Blom and Brady Wheeler of Edison Middle School, all supported by their teacher Sara Hokeness; and

WHEREAS, the 8th grade winner, Aryn Roerig of Memorial Middle School, wrote My Neighborhood Book Box, supported by Ann Tschetter, and the 8th grade runners up were Griffin Ertheim and Madelin Eggers of Edison Middle School, supported by Amber White:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the Ninety-Sixth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that the Legislature honors and commends all the students participating in the 2020 Human Rights Day Essay Contest and their teachers, for their exemplary essays concerning important human rights topics.