A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION congratulating and honoring Joyce Waddell on her retirement from the Bison School District.

WHEREAS, Joyce Waddell is retiring from the Bison School District after fifty-six years of dedicated service as a teacher, counselor, and librarian; and

WHEREAS, Joyce Waddell has devoted a total of sixty-one years to the education of South Dakota students, including four years in Spearfish and one year in Isabel, demonstrating an extraordinary lifetime commitment to public education; and

WHEREAS, Joyce has served as a common and enduring thread across generations within her community, having taught parents, and the children and grandchildren of her earliest students, thereby shaping the educational foundation of countless families; and

WHEREAS, her influence extended well beyond the classroom, as she remained a meaningful presence in the lives of former students through milestones such as weddings, baby showers, and baptisms, reflecting her deep connection to the people of this community; and

WHEREAS, Joyce exemplified the highest ideals of the teaching profession by living the motto, “I do this for the love of the kids,” demonstrating compassion, patience, and unwavering dedication to every student she served;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundred First Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that Joyce Waddell's commitment to both education and community has left an indelible impact on the Bison School District and this state.