A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Honoring Joelle Simpson of Rapid City as Miss South Dakota.

WHEREAS, Joelle, a sixth-generation South Dakotan, is the daughter of Val and Dave Simpson and was inspired at age five to be Miss South Dakota after participating in the Little Sister Program and serving as a little sister to her cousin, Miss South Dakota Anna Simpson, in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Joelle started learning how to play the harp at age eight and has played professionally since age thirteen; and

WHEREAS, Joelle is the state’s most accomplished figure skater, having reached the highest level of figure skating in four different disciplines of the sport, making her the first and the only U.S. Figure Skating quadruple gold medalist from South Dakota; and

WHEREAS, Joelle is a U.S. bronze medalist in synchronized skating as part of the Northernettes Synchronized Skating team; and

WHEREAS, Joelle’s community service initiative elevates the importance of nurturing nature across the state, protecting South Dakota’s thirty-three threatened and endangered species as well as preventing the spread of invasive species; and

WHEREAS, Joelle represented the state on the Miss America stage on January 5, 2025, and will steadfastly complete the final four months of her service to the state of South Dakota before crowning her successor on May 31, 2025;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundredth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that Joelle Simpson is Miss South Dakota.