State of South Dakota  
EIGHTY-SEVENTH SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2012  

961T0823   HOUSE COMMEMORATION   NO.  1024  

Introduced by:    Representatives Kloucek, Blake, Bolin, Cronin, Deelstra, Dennert, Feickert, Hawley, Hubbel, Jones, Lucas, Miller, Olson (Betty), Rausch, Sigdestad, Tulson, Turbiville, and Wismer and Senators Putnam, Brown, Frerichs, Hunhoff (Jean), Johnston, and Sutton
 

        A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Commending and honoring 2012 Miss Teen Great Plains International Alaina Bertsch on her accomplishment.

    WHEREAS, Alaina Bertsch was born on June 1, 1995, in Mitchell, South Dakota and is currently a student in Mt. Vernon, South Dakota with a 3.5 GPA; and

    WHEREAS, Alaina Bertsch was crowned 2012 Miss Teen Great Plains International in which each contestant picks a platform to promote and Alaina chose dyslexia and other learning disabilities; and

    WHEREAS, Alaina Bertsch has dyslexia, which is a learning disability, and was placed into a 504 Plan, where different strategies are used to help her: provide written notes by using a planner to write down assignments, using color-film sheets, using closed captions, and having tests and assignments read out loud and being a hands-on person; and

    WHEREAS, Alaina Bertsch's mission is to promote better understanding and awareness of dyslexia and other learning disabilities, to advocate for early screening for students and special training for teachers, and to embrace others who have learning differences and help find ways to raise and preserve their self-esteem; and

    WHEREAS, Alaina Bertsch's other accomplishments in life include: Theater, One-Act Plays Outstanding Actress Award of 2011; Oral Interp, featured singer of the 9-11 Patriotic Flag Ceremony in Pierre, South Dakota; Miss Teen South Dakota International 2011; Miss Congeniality and third runner-up in Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2012; Miss Teen Great Plains in 2012; All-State Chorus Soprano Delegate in the fall of 2011; and Vocal Solo Contest, Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years, superior ratings; and

    WHEREAS, Alaina Bertsch has put in her time and effort around her community and volunteering more than one hundred hours for Holy Family Church and is a part of the Learning Disabilities of America South Dakota which promotes awareness of dyslexia and other learning disabilities in our state:

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the Eighty-seventh Legislature of

the State of South Dakota, that Alaina Bertsch is honored and commemorated for being 2012 Miss Teen Great Plains International and all the work she does for the awareness of learning disabilities.