New Miss Diné College crowned

TSAILE, Ariz.

On Oct. 15, Mercede Johnson was crowned as the new 2019-20 Miss Diné College.

“Yá’á’tééh!” Johnson said. “Shi ei Tó’à’ahni nishli, Táchíínii e’i’ ba’ shi’shchi’i’n. Ma’ii deeshgzhni e’i’ dashicheii. Tsenjikini e’i’ dashina’li’.

“Mercede Johnson éí yíníshyé. Shima ei Tina Smith wolye, shizhe’e ei Emery Deschine wolye, shimasani ei Selena Chee wolye, shi chei ei Tom R. Chee wolye. Nit’aa shi nali azdaan ei Sarah Deschine wolye, shinali hastiin ei Frankie Deschine wolye.

“I am from Tsaile, Arizona,” she said. “Currently in the bachelors program in public health.”

Johnson excited the crowd when she sang a traditional Navajo Mountain Song for her traditional talent segment. Her contemporary talent was a demonstration on “How to do CPR.”

The other two contestants were Shaynee Bileen, a health occupations major, and Shastikka Iyua, also studying health occupations.

“The pageant is important not because of the title it carries, but the embodiment of the values of our college and community,” Board of Regents President Greg Bigman said. “Values play a key role in the cultivation of people and organizations. Having values reflective of our college is important for our students and growth.”

The 50th Miss Diné College pageant recognized eight past Miss Diné College titleholders Tuesday.

When the pageant started in 1970, the title was called “Miss Red Dawn” and later “Miss Navajo Community College. In 1997, the name was changed to its current version.

Stacey Jones, who served as the 1990-91 Miss Red Dawn, is a human resources representative in Phoenix.

Originally from Wheatfields, Arizona, Jones majored in education at Diné College and went on to graduate from Fort Lewis College with a degree in elementary education.

Quintanya Claw-Jensen, of Many Farms, Arizona, held her title from 2005 to 2006.

She was a Diné studies and Navajo language student and received a master’s degree in elementary education from Arizona State University. An accomplished artist, Claw-Jensen is now a teacher at Window Rock High.

Other past Miss Diné Colleges attending Tuesday’s event included Koltey Tso-Poorman, Crystal Littleben (2009-10, Miss Navajo 2017-18), Jerilyn Harvey (2004-05), Wilpita Bia and Glennita Haskey (’91-’92).

Haskey, from Lukachukai, Arizona, is the current vice president of student affairs at the college and holds a master’s degree from the University of New Mexico.

---