CHURCH ROCK, N.M.
Christian D. Begody, left, takes a selfie with Vice President Jonathan Nez during the 2015 Chief Manuelito Scholarship awards ceremony on Friday, July 17 at Red Rock Park. (Times photo Ð Stacy Thacker)
About 101 students received the Chief Manuelito Scholarship this year and celebrated with an awards ceremony at Red Rock Park on Friday.
The room was filled with proud parents and at least one nervous but excited student.
Sherralyn Sneezer, a recent graduate of Monument Valley High School, said she’s looking forward to starting her new chapter at Dartmouth College where she will be majoring in biology.
“I know I can do well there,” she said about the Navajo Nation, adding that she’s not sure what life will be like off the reservation.
Although Sneezer may be nervous, she said getting the Chief Manuelito Scholarship is a relief.
List of 2015 Chief Manuelito Scholars
(Name, High School, University)
- Allison, Dominique N., St. Michaels High School, University Of Utah
- Barber, Vanessa Nicole, Shiprock High School, Oklahoma State University – Stillwater
- Becenti, Nizhoni D., Rehoboth Christian School, Arizona State University
- Begay, Kayla A., Gallup High School, University of New Mexico
- Begay, Kiersten Kaye, Chinle High School, Arizona State University
- Begay, Makarios K., Washington High School, Arizona State University
- Begay, Summer Robin, Navajo Preparatory School Inc, University of New Mexico
- Begody, Christian D., Tuba City High School, Grand Canyon University
- Belin, Jacob T., Kirtland Central High School, University of Puget Sound
- Benally, Alyssa Gabrielle, Piedra Vista High School, San Juan College
- Bia, Celine T., Rehoboth Christian School, Concordia University – Irvine
- Bia, Jordyn K., Hamilton High School, University of Arizona
- Billie, Orville Tyrone, Farmington High School, New Mexico State University
- Black, Ashlynn S., Monument Valley High School, Stanford University
- Chambellan, Michael A., Sandia High School, University of New Mexico
- Charging, Austin L., Piedra Vista High School, St. Olaf College
- Chischilly, Nicholas G., Crownpoint High School, Fort Lewis College
- Clashin, Dana N., Flagstaff High School, Colorado State University-Ft Collins
- Curry, Jordan Amber, Farmington High School, Black Hills State University
- De Sheuquette, Tanesha S., Piedra Vista High School, Grand Canyon University
- Farley, Morgan L., Kirtland Central High School, University of Arizona
- Fatt, Devin K E, St. Michaels High School, Northern Arizona University
- Fowler, Christian Ross, Piedra Vista High School, Colorado College
- Gene, Twyla A., Holbrook High School, Northern Arizona University
- George, Kristonya C., Red Mesa High School, Northern Arizona University
- George, Shawndeena, Tuba City High School, Northern Arizona University
- Gishi, Matthew T., Holbrook High School, Arizona State University
- Gorman, Yvette P., Navajo Preparatory School Inc, University of New Mexico
- Gramzinski, Tiana (Tia) R., Chandler High School, Northern Arizona University
- Greyeyes, Jazmin N., Tuba City High School, Southern Utah University
- Hanley, Shayla R., Volcano Vista High School, University of New Mexico
- Harry, Lisa Karen, Shiprock High School, New Mexico State University
- Harvey, Kendall S., Bloomfield High School, Columbia University – New York
- Hatathlie, Kenaba Yikaitaah, Kirtland Central High School, Stanford University
- Henderson, Brianna K., Tuba City High School, University of Arizona
- Henderson, Kristen, Tuba City High School, Northern Arizona University
- Herman, Ailaina Nicole, Page High School, Brigham Young University
- Herrera, Shandiin H., Monument Valley High School, Duke University
- Hobson, Abraham Thomas, Shiprock High School, Gonzaga University
- Hoskie, Rookie L., Shiprock High School, Fort Lewis College
- Hudson, Jennifer A., Gallup High School, Northern Arizona University
- Jim, Shayla Randon, Piedra Vista High School, San Juan College
- John, Marcus Johnson, Central High School, Syracuse University
- Kaya, Kyra C., Tuba City High School, Coconino Community College
- Kee, Elaine Katherine, Kirtland Central High School, Fort Lewis College
- Kee, Lakeisha R., St. Michaels High School, University of New Mexico
- Keyaanie, Charla R., Flagstaff High School, Northern Arizona University
- King, Zachariah Storm, Farmington High School, University of New Mexico
- Kinlichee, Shelby Nicole, Holbrook High School, University of Arizona
- Largo-Anderson, Yitazba, Metropolitan Arts Institute, Hollins University
- Laughing, Cheron, St. Michaels High School, Dartmouth College
- Lee, Kelly J., Holbrook High School, Arizona State University
- Lewis, Asia L., Bloomfield High School, Fort Lewis College
- Lister, Brooke K., Page High School, Grand Canyon University
- Lucero, Krysta R., St. Pius X High School, Eastern New Mexico University – Portales
- Mark, Lanaasbah R., Piedra Vista High School, Oklahoma State University
- Martin, Amanda N., Rehoboth Christian School, Colorado College
- Martin, Zunneh-bah A., Tohatchi High School, Colorado College
- Martinez, Ashley P., St. Pius X High School, Dartmouth College
- Mike, Nizhoni K., Window Rock High School, Northern Arizona University
- Miller Jr. , Gerald, Piedra Vista High School, San Juan College
- Mitchell, Mishayla Brietta, White Horse High School, Northern Arizona University
- Mooney, Josiah, Hempfield High School, Pennsylvania State University
- Nahsonhoya, Temera R., Rehoboth Christian School, Arizona State University
- Peace, Dillen Alexander, Rock Point Community School, Dartmouth College
- Ranger, Tachiinii S., Window Rock High School, Brigham Young University
- Rogers, Taylor K., Hamilton High School, Northern Arizona University
- Rosas, Lorenzo Cuauhtemoc, Loyola High School, Stanford University
- Sam, Vanisha R., Navajo Preparatory School Inc, New Mexico State University
- Sappington, Jasmine M., Bloomfield High School, San Juan College
- Sekaquaptewa, Monica H., Chandler High School, Columbia University-New York
- Shepherd, Sheldon M., St. Michaels High School, Mesa Community College
- Shorty, Madison C., Shiprock High School, Princeton University
- Singleton, Kaitlyn, Winnetonka High School, Missouri State University
- Smart, Shantal Karla Rose, Shiprock High School, San Juan College
- Smith, Braydyn D., Ganado High School, University of Arizona
- Smith, Jacob M., Kirtland Central High School, New Mexico State University
- Sneezer, Sherralyn, Monument Valley High School, Dartmouth College
- Sorensen, Tyler J., Navajo Preparatory School Inc, University of New Mexico
- Tom, Sarah R., Window Rock High School, University of Arizona
- Tsingine, Tate S., Tuba City High School, Central Arizona College
- Uentillie, Alexus Brooke, Shiprock High School, Williamette University
- Vale, Andrew A., McClintock High School, Arizona State University
- Walck, Jonathan A., Montezuma-Cortez High School, Stanford University
- Watson, Seldon Dolth, Kirtland Central High School, New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
- Wauneka III, Alonzo, Tuba City High School, Arizona State University
- Wayne, Kaitlyn E., Monument Valley High School, Northern Arizona University
- Whitfield, Emery U., Albuquerque Academy, Stanford University
- Wilson, Delvecchio Kyle, Navajo Preparatory School Inc, Cornell University
- Winder, Sarah E., Stansbury High School, Weber State University
- Winney, Dru Dale, Chinle High School, Arizona State University
- Wirth, Dylan M., West Albany High School, University of Arizona
- Yazzie, Darshina S., Tuba City High School, Dartmouth College
- Yazzie, Desiree Rhea, St. Michaels High School, Arizona State University
- Yazzie, Kyith S., Kirtland Central High School, Arizona State University
- Yazzie, Stephen Tanner, Chinle High School, Arizona State University
- Yazzie, Tally Jean, Independence High School, Glendale Community College
- Yazzie, Tia N., Riverton High School, Dartmouth College
- Yenchik, Shanell Natalie, Monument Valley High School, Utah State University Eastern
- Yessilth, Sierra Kacy, Shiprock High School, University of New Mexico
“It’s just really an honor to be a Chief Manuelito Scholar,” she said.
Sneezer is also a Gates Millennium Scholar and said that with the addition of the Chief Manuelito Scholarship, she can focus on her education and not how to pay for it.
For another teen, the scholarship also meant that the financial burden wouldn’t be so heavy.
“It means that my four years of hard work paid off,” said Alyssa Benally, a graduate of Piedra Vista High School.
Benally will be attending San Juan College in the fall, where she will pursue a nursing degree, but she isn’t your average college freshman. Benally has already completed about 31 college credits through dual-credit classes at her former high school.
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