Jessica Reisinger Visits Section 36!

Photo-Kevin Hedin

Section 36 had another visitor! Jessica Reisinger is passionate about supporting survivors of sexual assault, a talented performer, and the current Miss Alaska. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. 

So, let's see what happens when Jessica Reisinger visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Alaska crown?

I had an exam at 8 AM the morning following Miss Alaska, so I was up until about 2 AM studying the various types of blood cancer after winning the crown! I got to celebrate in the days following with my Miss Alaska pageant family! 

Do you have a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Alaska?

I have two main goals as Miss Alaska, the first being growing our program. This year, we had 9 Miss and 5 Teen candidates, I’d like to work to double that number for the 2023 competition. In regards to my SII, I’d love to partner with the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) to continue to promote the importance of resources for survivors of sexual assault and what it means to small and rural communities. 

Back-to-back Korean-American Alaskans Miss Americas would be pretty cool, too.

What part of the upcoming Miss America competition are you most nervous about?

I am so excited and beyond grateful to represent the Last Frontier at Miss America. I’m most nervous about talent, I’m working with a new routine and limited time to practice but I am so excited to share this story through dance on the Miss America stage. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Supporting Survivors: Increasing Access to Sexual Assault Response Resources”?

Before medical school, I worked in the emergency room which is an extremely harrowing job at times. It really brought to light the limited access to medical care that plagues Alaskan communities. After volunteering as a sexual assault crisis line responder for over two years, I know this was the issue I needed to bring to the forefront of conversation. I will never forget the time I signed onto my crisis line shift and was told there would not be any forensic nurses available for sexual assault exams for nearly 10 hours and anyone who needed an exam in that time frame would need to wait until morning. 

What do you enjoy most about performing your talent on stage?

I have always loved story telling and I grew up as a competitive gymnast so I’ve always loved performing. Learning how to transform my past as a gymnast into a stage-ready talent was a very unique experience. I had to learn how to dance in a way that wasn’t just executing skills, but connecting with an audience and telling a story. 

You’re currently attending medical school at the UW School of Medicine. What drew you to that field?

I say a lot that I never had a “lightbulb” moment that drew me to medicine. I just always knew it was what I was meant to do. I loved the science of the human body and as I grew older, realized that medicine is so much more than that. I grew to love the human connection that comes from being a physician. So, nothing in particular drew me to medicine, I just always knew it was for me, but many incredible physician mentors have kept me here. They’re my go-to people when I have a negative experience with a patient or have put in so many 12 hour days studying that I want to quit. I know I have these people in my corner for life and I am so grateful for that. 

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

Photo-Kevin Hedin

Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon! Honestly, I’ve never been a huge Disney fan, but a friend of mine sat me down to watch that movie last year and I instantly fell in love. She’s quite a complex character for a children movie and I think it makes her seem more real. I’ve watched it probably 10 times in the last year. 

If you had an extra ticket to see an Alaska Baseball League game, who would you take with you? Why?

My dad! My family has always been huge baseball fans and I basically grew up on the Little League fields watching my older brother play sitting next to my dad on the bleachers. He’d always take us to the Tacoma Rainers games when I was little and those are some of my favorite memories. 

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

More so a specific game I’d love to attend! I’d love to attend a Seattle Mariners game again. They’re the closest thing Alaska has to a home team. I attended a game when I was 10 and feel like I didn’t appreciate it as much as I would now!

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I definitely hope she gets to a game soon! 

As always, I want to thank Jessica for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Jessica continues her time as Miss Alaska, I encourage you to check out her title's Website and Instagram. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss America crown this winter. It would be wonderful to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Jessica, and good luck!

Aly Pratkelis Visits Section 36!

Photo David Schlatter

Section 36 had another visitor! Aly Pratkelis is passionate about giving children their voice, a talented kickboxer, and the current Miss Pikes Peak. I was so excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Aly Pratkelis visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Pikes Peak crown?

In Colorado, we do not have local competitions. Instead, it is a first-come, first-serve, and choosing a local title since the Miss Colorado Scholarship Organization is still growing! But I chose my local title as Pikes Peak because Pikes Peak is known as America’s mountain. Not only is this America’s mountain, but it is my favorite mountain and the reason I moved to Colorado Springs! We have the best views of Pikes Peak on my college campus, and when I was on the college tour, I fell in love with that view. This mountain has so much history and many different underlying themes that relate to my story. 

What portion of the Miss Colorado competition are you most nervous about?

I am the most nervous about performing my talent on stage. My talent is very unconventional, and I perform a routine that combines kickboxing and a monologue. I am nervous because this is a sport that I love and have learned so much from, and I want to make sure I emulate the values of the sport on stage. 

What is something that Maura Aisling is doing as Miss Colorado that you would want to emulate? 

Maura Aisling is nothing short of unapologetically authentic! She holds true to herself 100% of the time, which is so needed in the world, and I want to emulate that same thing inside and outside of competition. Maura also is a fantastic advocate for creating change in the political sector regarding mental health in the military. She inspires me every day to continue working to be an advocate for survivors of sexual assault. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Voice for the Voiceless”?

At 11 years old, I was sexually assaulted by a teacher at my middle school. I did not know what to do at that age. But when I did at the age of 14, I took my voice back. I can attribute my healing to the support system that equipped me with the necessary resources, compassion, and unconditional love that allowed me to heal and recover. Not everyone is this lucky regarding their support system at home. That is what sparked my idea to be an advocate for better education and legislative change surrounding child sexual abuse and sexual assault. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, and every 9 minutes, that person is a child. So many of these survivors are left without a voice, and legislation and education are failing them. After learning from my own story and healing journey, I felt like it was the perfect way to use my experience to lead the effort in child sexual abuse and sexual assault prevention. Voice for the Voiceless is about empowering people to use their voices to speak up while also giving survivors a voice in education and at the legislative level. 

What do you enjoy most about performing your kickboxing talent on stage?

I have not performed this on stage, but I spend countless hours rehearsing this in the gym, in my apartment, in the dance room at the gym, and pretty much everywhere I can. But my favorite thing about performing this talent is how strong and at peace I am when I do it. There is a very calming aspect to it for me. I choose this talent because I have fallen in love with the sport, but I also want to show little girls that they are not limited to ballet, gymnastics, or cheerleading. Instead, they can kickbox or do any martial arts. I also want to show that while I love traditional talents, there are so many unconventional talents that can be showcased on stage. Finally, kickboxing is what makes me feel strong and confident in my own body. I want to show survivors that this is an avenue that may help them in their healing journey. 

You are studying Criminal Justice and Psychology. Where do you hope those fields will take you?

I started college to go to law school and then pursue a criminal law career. This goal has not wavered. Instead, I have just added some more career pieces to my life. I ultimately want to use what I have learned in these fields to be a better advocate for survivors in the courtroom. But I am also pursuing avenues to create legislative change regarding child sexual abuse and sexual assault. Both Criminal Justice and Psychology play a significant role in these issues. They both increase my understanding of these challenging topics and make me a better advocate! 

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I would choose Moana! I have always had this love for sailboats, and I have no idea where it comes from, but I love them, and I would love to spend every second I could sail across the ocean! I may love my mountains first and foremost, but the ocean is a close second. But after all, who doesn’t love the ocean? 

If you had an extra ticket to a Colorado Rockies game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my roommate and best friend, Danielle. She and I have spent so much time going to the baseball games at UCCS, and we always have so much fun! We are graduating just in time for baseball season. Our next baseball game will undoubtedly be a Colorado Rockies game. Ideally, this would be the Colorado Rockies versus the Washington Nationals game! After spending a summer watching the Nationals play in Washington DC, I may have developed a second favorite team. Despite both being baseball teams with little success, both teams represent the two places I call home. Danielle shares my love for watching a good baseball game in the summer. That is why she would always be my first call if I had an extra Rockies (or Nationals) ticket! 

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

One day I want to be able to throw the first pitch. This may seem cliche, but it looks so fun, and my throwing is so terrible that I think this would be quite comical for the audience to watch!

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I think it only seems cliche because it would be an incredible experience that everyone wants to try! 

As usual, I want to thank Aly for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

I also want to wish her luck when she competes for Miss Colorado! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Aly during her journey as Miss Pikes Peak. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on. 

Thanks again Aly, and good luck!

Kayla Wright Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Kayla Wright is passionate about talking about sexual abuse, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Statesville. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Kayla Wright visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Statesville crown?

In the moment I won Miss Statesville, I immediately started crying. Miss Statesville has been a dream of mine since I was 8 years old and the people within the organization have always been like family to me. Winning the title was more than just receiving a crown and sash, it was culmination of hard work. Statesville is my hometown, and I knew that if I ever got the chance to compete at Miss North Carolina it was the only place I wanted to wear across my chest. After winning, I took lots of pictures, cried with family and friends, and then went to eat a huge burger! 

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Statesville?

While I have many goals, my biggest is to make Statesville proud. That may sound cliche, but if I make the people of my town proud to have me as representative then I have done my job. I hope to make them proud in many capacities so keep up with me to see just how I do it! 

What is something you learned about yourself at Miss Statesville that will help you when you compete for Miss North Carolina?

Well for one, I cannot wear a strapless evening gown! I was pulling it up all night so I don’t think that would be the best decision for Miss North Carolina. More seriously, I learned that the people that were also competing for the title didn’t view it as a competition between each other. By this I mean that we did not view each other as competitors but as friends. I still talk to the girls I competed with and I hope that our friendships continue for a long time. The committee of Miss Statesville mentioned that we were the closest group of contestants, Miss and Teen, that they had seen. It was truly a women supporting women moment. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “L.I.A.R.”?

Four years ago, I was sexually assaulted by my boyfriend. For a long time I didn’t believe myself to be a sexual assault survivor because it was my boyfriend that did it and not a stranger or acquaintance. When I finally felt comfortable to tell my story to close friends, they provided me with comfort, telling me that it didn’t matter if he was my boyfriend when it occurred. I believe there are thousands of men and women that haven’t told their stories because they felt the same way I did. I want to empower these people and teach others that sexual assault does not only happen with strangers or acquaintances and it does not only happen at social gatherings or in alley ways. It can happen with someone you thought you loved in a place you once found comforting.  

As a talented dancer, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?

As a dancer of 19 years, the stage is my home. Dance provides with a place to be free and express myself with movement. I love telling stories through my dances, and I hope that my Miss North Carolina talent is one that resonates with everyone. 

At Clemson, you’ve been a member of the Tiger Strut dance team. What was that experience like?

I was a member of Tiger Strut for my Freshman, Sophomores and Junior year. I am now a co-captain and team member with two other amazing ladies in my last year on the team. This team has provided me with a family at school and has allowed me to continue dancing in college. Not everybody gets the chance I’ve been afforded and I’ll forever be grateful for what Tiger Strut has given me. 

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I would love to be in “Inside Out” as one of the emotions. When I watch that movie I like to think that’s how my feelings work. It’s a feel good movie with the perfect mix of comedic relief. 

If you had an extra ticket to a Charlotte Knights baseball game, who would you take with you? Why?

If I were able to pick anyone it would be my papa. Although that is a chance I’ll won’t get because he is no longer with us, he would be the perfect baseball game companion. He was a huge Atlanta Braves fan and was definitely cheering them on when they won the World Series. 

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

I would love to throw the first pitch or sit inside the producing room. Two very different things but both amazing experiences. Throwing the first pitch would be a moment I would never forget, but being in the production room would give me an inside look into how games are called and how producers choose what is played to fans on television. I have put emphasis on sports in my time at Clemson in hopes that one day I could work for a professional sports team so any feature or activity in sports is an amazing experience and opportunity!

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Thise are two very different goals, and I love them both.

As usual, I want to thank Kayla for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Kayla continues her time as Miss Statesville, I encourage you to check out her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish Kayla luck when she competes for Miss North Carolina! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

Thanks again Kayla, and good luck!