Jordan Naylor Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Jordan Naylor is passionate about CPR, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Alaska. I was so thrilled that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. 

So, let's see what happens when Jordan Naylor visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Alaska crown? 

I had a big plate of pasta with my best friend. After seeing all of my family and taking a lot of photos, relaxing with my best friend was the perfect way to finish the evening. 

What is something Jessica Reisinger did as Miss Alaska that you would like to emulate? 

Jessica is an amazing human. Being able to attend Med school AND be Miss Alaska?? Wow. I hope that I can attend a lot of the same events and continue to support some of the organizations that she focused on throughout her year. Also, just being a light like she was. Every time I saw her, she had a smile on her face and was enjoying every moment. That is my goal-- serve with a smile and enjoy every single moment. 

Having previously served as both Miss Alaska’s Teen and as Miss Alaska USA, do you think that national experience will help you at the Miss America competition?

 I think my previous experience gives me an idea of what to expect going to a national pageant and maybe be slightly more prepared than I even was attending Miss USA. It will definitely help me pack! 

How did you select your Community Service Initiative? 

Each and every day, I meet someone who has dealt with cardiovascular disease in some capacity. It could be through the death of a family member or friend, living with the disease themselves, or knowing someone who lives with the disease. It is a silent and deadly killer. Last year, the entire nation saw the importance of CPR. When Damar Hamilton went down the EMTs were right there to keep his heart beating. Living in a place like Alaska, we have a much larger area and it takes longer for emergency services to get to you if you go down on a hike, or while you're camping, or fishing, or just at your cabin. For some people, they live 70 miles from the closest medical professional by dog sled. It is critical for Alaskans to learn hands only CPR because it could be the difference between life and death in SO many situations. I want to be a force that helps Alaskans feel confident that they can step in during that emergency situation. 

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

I feel like I get to show so much of my personality when I am dancing. The sass and fun side I get to portray is so much fun for me.

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

Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon. He's so cool. I would like to see what it's like being a dragon, I mean why not. 

What is your personal fitness routine? 

I work with Morgan Morgan and she is AMAZING. My fitness routine fluctuates with my goals. I love a good lifting session in the gym, but you can also catch me hiking in Alaska. Thankfully, when you live in the land of the midnight sun the hikes are endless and beautiful. 

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

I am actually throwing the first pitch at a Glacier Pilots game this weekend! I am taking my mom. We love going and supporting the teams. Also, who doesn't love to sit and enjoy America's favorite pastime? My mom is the best plus one to every event. We are always laughing and having a great time. I am really excited to spend this next year with her at all of the events I am able to attend. 

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

Throwing the first pitch at a game was one of the first things I put on my list that I wanted to do as Miss Alaska. I am excited to be marking that one off this weekend at the Summer Solstice Game. It is a double header that starts at 9pm, and we never have to turn the stadium lights on because the sun never sets. Just another wonder of living in Alaska. 

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She did a great job with that pitch too!

As always, I want to thank Jordan 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 America! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Jordan during her journey. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account and website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on, and you'll be sure not to miss anything. 

Thanks again Jordan, and good luck!

Hannah Utic Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Hannah Utic is passionate about political involvement, a talented singer, and the current Miss Alaska. 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 Hannah Utic visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Alaska crown?

My mom best friend, who was Miss Alaska 1993 and helped me get ready for Miss Alaska, and I had a deal that the day after the pageant, win or lose, we were going to celebrate with donuts—so that’s what we did! The morning after, we went out for hot cocoa and donuts and it was great. We also had a bet going: her and I always get our nails done together, so we had a deal that if I lost, I had to get my nails painted yellow (I despise the color yellow for nails) but if I won, then I got to pick her nail color (she’s very picky). So I had an absolutely fantastic time picking out this completely great nail color for her that she would have refused to wear otherwise.

What is something Jessica Reisinger did as Miss Alaska that you would like to emulate?

Jessica made the absolute best of friends with her fellow state titleholders, and I cannot wait to hopefully also meet lifelong friends at Miss America.

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

I honestly am not very nervous, I am just excited to go represent my state and have the time of my life! If I had to name one thing though, I am not a dancer whatsoever, so all the choreography we will have to learn should be interesting for me.

How did you select your Community Service Initiative, “Civic Involvement through Informed Voting”? 

I have always been very interested in political processes, even as a child, which is what led me to pursue a political science degree. Throughout my time in school, I began to notice more and more the lack of interest that people, especially my generation, have in being involved in our government, even within the local community. One of my favorite quotes is, “Because we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, we have been given so much. Therefore I believe we have much to give in return.” It is not only our right but actually our duty as American citizens to be involved civically in our society, so my CSI is really a reflection of my hope to promote this message.

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

I am not someone who craves the spotlight, so performing solo on stage is definitely not something that greatly appeals to me. However, I had spent so much time practicing my song “I Will Survive,” that when it came time to perform, I just had so much fun getting to walk out and play in the most sparkly hot pink dress I’ve ever seen and finally get to see the fruit of all my hard work pay off.

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

I think I would want to be Remy from Ratatouille because he gets to hang out in France and eat incredible food.

You recently graduated with a degree in political science. Where do you see those studies taking you?

A lot of people who have political science degrees tend to purse law or major political careers. However, for me, I plan to use this basis of education to help me be able to work on solutions to issues in my local and state communities.

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

I would definitely have to take my youngest brother Ian, because he is an absolute baseball fanatic and he would never forgive me if I didn’t bring him along.

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

I’m not very knowledgeable about anything sports related, however I have been to a few Seattle Mariners games and my favorite part is always the funny things they show on the big screen in between innings. I do think it would be a ton of fun to throw the opening pitch at a game.

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A first pitch does sound like fun!

As always, I want to thank Hannah 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 America! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Hannah during her journey. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account and website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on, and you'll be sure not to miss anything. 

Thanks again Hannah, and good luck!

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!

Emma Broyles Visits Section 36!

Photo: Kevin Hedin

Section 36 had another visitor! Emma Broyles is passionate about the Special Olympics, a talented singer, and the current Miss Alaska. I was so thrilled that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. I'm especially excited that she is the first visitor from the state of Alaska!

So, let's see what happens when Emma Broyles visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Alaska crown? 

To be completely honest, I was really not expecting to win the title of Miss Alaska! Hearing my name called on stage felt surreal and I definitely hesitated for a minute because I wasn’t sure that I actually won. After the competition, my family and I went to a local Mexican restaurant to meet the Miss Alaska Organization volunteers, candidates, and judges. Chowing down on nachos while surrounded by my family and friends was truly the best way to celebrate.

What had been the most pleasant surprise about your time as Miss Alaska?

One of my favorite things about being Miss Alaska is getting to be a part of the incredible sisterhood. I am constantly in awe of titleholders in the Miss America Organization and feel so incredibly grateful to know such intelligent and driven young women. Additionally, this title and this organization have offered me so many unique experiences and opportunities that I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

You were recently able to appear in the iconic Show Us Your Shoes parade at the Miss America 100th anniversary celebration. What was that experience like?

I have always seen photos of the historic Show Us Your Shoes Parade and loved looking through the state costumes and shoes, so getting to participate in the parade was a dream come true. Putting together my costume was also such a fun aspect of the parade because it allowed me to embrace my creativity and showcase my state in a unique way. I also really enjoyed getting to see each candidate’s costume and shoes, and our class had some fabulous outfits!

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Building Community through Special Olympics”? 

Special Olympics has been a significant part of my life for over 12 years, and my journey began when my older brother first became an athlete. Since then I have been a coach, president of the largest Special Olympics school program in Alaska, a unified partner, and an advocate. My family even received the honor of being named Special Olympics Alaska's Family of the Year.

As a sibling of an individual with an intellectual disability and Special Olympics athlete, I have witnessed the positive impact Special Olympics has on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and communities. Special Olympics is an organization that plays a critical role in every community, and I am so excited to continue to share its mission on the Miss America stage. 

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

I absolutely love the thrill of performing! As many other performers will tell you, being able to express yourself through your art and feeling the adrenaline in your veins as you stand in front of an audience makes you feel so alive. When I’m performing, the world stops and I exist in a fantasy where my problems disappear and I know the trajectory of the story. I am freed of feelings of uncertainty because I have already seen the character’s path and I can simply communicate and embrace it. 

You’re currently studying biomedical sciences and voice performance at ASU. Where do you see those fields taking you?

After graduating from Arizona State University I plan on attending PA school, though I ultimately hope to return to medical school to become a dermatologist. I knew that I couldn’t give up singing so I decided to pursue a minor in voice performance to continue my vocal studies. 

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

I would be Genie from Aladdin! Aladdin was one of my favorite movies growing up and Genie’s powers are top tier. At some point I would definitely create an unlimited buffet of every possible food. 

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

I would take my brothers to see a baseball game! Though this question is a bit difficult because I would not be able to choose between my brothers, so I would likely end up buying an extra ticket XD. 

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

Throwing the first pitch! Unfortunately, my hand-eye coordination is lacking, so I don’t trust myself. But someday I dream of having an epic first pitch like Simone Biles. 

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Now, that would be fantastic! 

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

As Emma continues her time as Miss Alaska, I encourage you to follow her title's Instagram and Facebook accounts. You should also check out the official Miss Alaska website. 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 fantastic to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Emma, and good luck!