Chief Manuelito awardees ready to enter new world of college life

Posted by Kianna Joe | Aug 3, 2023 | Education |

FLAGSTAFF – Yá’át’ééh shi eí …. yinishyé.
That is how over a hundred Diné students greeted their relatives at the Chief Manuelito Scholarship Award Ceremony while nervously preparing to step into a new educational journey.

On Friday, July 28, master of ceremonies Ferlin Clark introduced eight speakers who each congratulated the recent graduates of high school and encouraged each of the students to keep pushing themselves in their educational journeys.

One hundred ten Navajo students will receive the Chief Manuelito scholarship this year, which awards $7,000 for each academic year.

Pushing to succeed – worth it

Once a nervous and scared freshman in college and a recipient of the Chief Manuelito Scholarship, Leah Gaush told the audience that she knows the struggles of leaving home for college and pushing herself to succeed all too well. However, she also knows that if she could graduate college, these students could step into a new world of college life and studies.

In high school in Virginia, Gaush said she jumped at every opportunity to learn more about her Diné culture. She is Diné-Bilagáana and struggled to get information about the Navajo people.

She utilized her mother and maternal grandfather as reliable sources, plus books, classes, and even Google until she could talk with someone her age.

“This was the first time in my life I had met another Navajo kid my age. I was delighted to find that other Navajo kids are just as stupid, just as funny, and just as confused about themselves as I was, even if they spent their whole life on the rez,” said Gaush.

After meeting another Navajo student her age, she decided to go to college, and she said as much as people assumed she enjoyed school, she did not.

Gaush remembers crying the first day of each school year, and when her senior year came around, she counted down the seconds to leave.

Today, however, Gaush admitted to the crowd that everything she did and experienced during high school and college was worth it. She told the students going to college that everything they have done and what they will do, is worth the sleepless nights and tears.

2023 Chief Manuelito Scholars
1. Allyn J. Allen; San Juan High School; Utah State University – Blanding
2. Cody S. Arviso; Miyamura High School; University of New Mexico
3. Haylei Lana Aspaas; Mountain Pointe High School; Chandler-Gilbert Community College
4. Moriah Barber; Miyamura High School; Grand Canyon University
5. Brynn D. Bedah; Provo Senior High School; Brigham Young University
6. Ellyce B. Begay; Tuba City High School; Utah Tech University
7. Hirum Begay; Volcano Vista High School; Brigham Young University
8. Jordyn Begay; Newcomb High School; San Juan College
9. Kaia R. Begay; Miyamura High School; University of New Mexico
10. Tayshawn M. Begay; Calloway County High School; San Juan College
11. Teghan M. Begay; Kirtland Central High School; Fort Lewis College
12. Mareevah M. Belin; Holbrook High School; Northern Arizona University
13. Austin R. Benally; Flagstaff High School; Northern Arizona University
14. Emily Beyale; Piedra Vista High School; Northern Arizona University
15. Malia Dawn Bishop; American Fork High School; Brigham Young University
16. Tehya D. Black; Page High School; Coconino Community College
17. Natalie M. Blackrock; Holbrook High School; University of Arizona
18. Patricia H. Blickem; Notre Dame Prep High School; Arizona State University
19. Demetria Dawn Brown; Navajo Pine High School; New Mexico State University
20. Noah Austin Clashin Brown; Holbrook High School; Cerro Coso Community College
21. David Brown IV; McClintock High School; Arizona State University
22. Tyson Charles; Piedra Vista High School; Northern Arizona University
23. Anika K. Ching; Layton High School; University of Arizona
24. Victoria Amber Clark; Valley Christian High School; Grand Canyon University
25. Lakendria Cly; Chinle High School; Fort Lewis College
26. Tessa Jane Cummings; Page High School; Arizona State University
27. Jessi Anyse Curry; Farmington High School; Tyler Junior College
28. Morgan C. Deale; Farmington High School; Stanford University
29. Aliyana K. Dee; Monument Valley High School; Northern Arizona University
30. Ariana Erin Delpino; Desert Vista High School; Grand Canyon University
31. Leejen Denetsosie-Gomez; Madison Highland Prep; Arizona State University
32. Marcus M. Denny; Whitehorse High School; Utah State University – Blanding
33. Tommy Roger Denny Martins; Farmington High School; University of New Mexico
34. Taylor P. Dineyazhe; Middle College High School; Yale University
35. Emma J. Egan; Rehoboth Christian School; New Mexico State University
36. Daysha Jace Fuller; Red Mountain High School; University of Arizona
37. Nalyn T. Goodluck; Deer Valley High School; Grand Canyon University
38. Asher Erwin Harrison; Farmington High School; San Juan College
39. Bryce Harvey; Monument Valley High School; California State University
40. Jayden L. Harvey; Monument Valley High School; Northern Arizona University
41. Maya A. Harvey; Flagstaff High School; Northern Arizona University
42. Hunter Hastings; Farmington High School; San Juan College
43. Kelly L. Haven; Window Rock High School; University of Arizona
44. Erin S. Henry; San Juan College High School; University of Arizona
45. Jayden G. Hogue; San Juan College High School; New Mexico Institute of Mining & Tech
46. Joshua J. Holiday; Peoria High School; Brigham Young University
47. Malakie M. Holyan; Flagstaff High School; University of Arizona
48. Xiomara C. Hoover; Mountain Pointe High School; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
49. Brianna L. Hosteen; ASU Preparatory Academy; University of Arizona
50. Jordan M. Hubbard; Westview High School; Reed College
51. Kiian M. Huenemann; Rio Rancho High School; Stanford University
52. Emmalynn L. Hunzeker; Holbrook High School; Northern Arizona University
53. Tayler C. Jackson; Coconino High School; Oregon State University
54. Memphis N. James; Coconino High School; Sterling College at Kansas
55. Ryan Jaden Jim; Rehoboth Christian School; Fort Lewis College
56. Kyler B. Joe; Kirtland Central High School; John Brown University
57. Erika D. Johnson; Navajo Preparatory School; University of Southern California
58. Aubrey R. Jones; Piedra Vista High School; University of Southern California
59. Grace A. Jump; Page High School; Northern Arizona University
60. Alec Bobby James King; Madison Highland Prep; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
61. Shon E. King; Middle College High School; Northern Arizona University
62. Jayden A. Lamb; Piedra Vista High School; Texas Tech University
63. Krystal N. Lapahie; San Juan College High School; University of New Mexico
64. Destiny Faith Lee; Newcomb High School; Occidental College
65. Thalia S. Lee; Volcano Vista High School; University of New Mexico
66. Yazzmine D. Lee; Farmington High School; University of New Mexico
67. Zoe A. Linn; Clovis High School; University of Utah
68. Dakota C. Long; San Juan High School; University of Utah
69. Charles W. Lynch III; Rehoboth Christian School; Northern Arizona University
70. Aeris Elise Mannie; Page High School; Arizona State University
71. Wyatt T. Manygoats; Richfield High School; University of Utah
72. Angelica V. Martinez; Del Norte High School; Adams State University
73. Timoteo R. Mauga; Kirtland Central High School; Fort Lewis College
74. Carmen Mitchell; Monument Valley High School; Yale University
75. Bradley Leon Moses; Farmington High School; Northern Arizona University
76. Jasmine Grace Nells; Joseph City High School; Fort Lewis College
77. Adam Nez; San Juan High School; Snow College
78. Ashley J. Nez; Navajo Preparatory School; Fort Lewis College
79. Téa L. Nockideneh; Page High School; University of Arizona
80. Abrianna M. Notah-Johnson; Saint Pius X High School; University of New Mexico
81. Alexander H. Pacheco; Rio Rancho High School; Texas Tech University
82. Jalen I. Panana; Crownpoint High School; University of New Mexico
83. Lily M. Parham; Great Bridge High School; University of New Mexico
84. Bradley Pinto Jr.; Miyamura High School; Northern Arizona University
85. Kyle Jay Pruitt; V Sue Cleveland High School; University of New Mexico
86. Brent D. Ray, Jr.; Navajo Preparatory School; Fort Lewis College
87. Cooper B. Robinson; Mountain View High School; University of Arizona
88. Jeremiah G. Rose; Pinon High School; Arizona State University
89. Tamairah S. Salazar; Desert Vista High School; Columbia University
90. Jenevieve J. Sepulveda; Betty H Fairfax High School; South Mountain Community College
91. Brainard Dana Shirley, Jr.; Desert Ridge High School; University of Arizona
92. Ashlee M. Shoemaker; Vernon Hills High School; University of Illinois-Urbana
93. Isaiah T. Smiley; San Juan College High School; New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
94. Bahe J. Spruhan; Window Rock High School; University of Arizona
95. Jaycelyn Jean Tallsalt; Tuba City High School; University of Arizona
96. Alaina M. Tesarek; Mountain View High School; Arizona State University
97. Loren T. Thomas; Holbrook High School; University of Arizona
98. Kirsti R. Thompson; Chinle High School; Fort Lewis College
99. Dea Lucio Truong; Horizon Honors; Arizona State University
100. Deidre R. Tsaipi; Deer Valley High School; Grand Canyon University
101. Sariah Ashli Valentine; Farmington High School; Fort Lewis College
102. Shelby Lynn Vasku; Whitehorse High School; Southern Utah University
103. Phoenix T. Wall; Poudre High School; Brigham Young University
104. Hana Nancy Walter; Shiprock High School; Fort Lewis College
105. Jeremiah A. Walters; Tuba City High School; Utah Valley University
106. Yilnazbah R. Wauneka-Yellowhorse; Navajo Preparatory School; Haskell Indian Nations University
107. Marius T. Williams; Miyamura High School; Fort Lewis College
108. Nolan L. Williams; Flagstaff High School; Arizona State University
109. Dayton P. Yazzie; Navajo Preparatory School; New Mexico State University
110. Makenzie O. Yazzie; Piedra Vista High School; University of Nevada – Las Vegas