Education

'Big dreams for little feet'

57 Diné students receive Chief Manuelito Scholarship

By Anne Griffis
Special to the Times

TUBA CITY, Aug. 4, 2011

Fifty-seven Diné high school graduates received scholarship awards of $7,000 on July 29, along with honor, encouragement, and advice for continued academic success during the 2011 Hastiin Ch'il Haajini Chief Manuelito Scholarship Awards Ceremony.

Hosted by the Department of Diné Education's Western Agency scholarship office, the daylong celebration and a banquet took place at Tuba City High's Warriors Pavilion.

Guest speaker President Ben Shelly set the tone of high expectations for these students, saying, "Educate yourselves to build the Navajo Nation."

Shelly urged the young people to enter the fields of science and technology, especially energy. Shelly cautioned students to learn from their past mistakes in order to overcome obstacles in the first year of college.

"In the past, you may have missed school, or felt too lazy to do your homework," he said. "When you look back, there is a crooked trail. Don't make the same mistakes."

First flunking, then success

The keynote speaker was Dr. Vanessa Jensen, who is Biih bitoodnii (Deer Spring Clan), born for Tábaahá (Water's Edge Clan). Her paternal grandfather is Naakai Dine' é (Mexican Clan).

She told the story of her crooked trail to becoming a surgeon. Like the students being honored, Jensen was a 1991 recipient of the Chief Manuelito Scholarship.

A traditional Navajo, Jensen enrolled in Northern Arizona University to remain close to her family in Tuba City and to eat fry bread and mutton.

At NAU, she didn't like being told that three out of four Native American students would not finish the first year in college, and was determined to prove them wrong.

Jensen majored in pre-veterinarian medicine, hoping to be of some use at home with livestock. Unfortunately, she signed up for too many difficult courses, felt too afraid to ask for help, lost her scholarships, and "flunked out."

She transferred to the University of Arizona (where they had fry bread and mutton) and learned to prioritize among her classes and band duties, three jobs, her sorority, and volunteering at the hospital.

"When you're trying to decide whether to go to the movie or study for the test tomorrow, remember that every grade is on your transcript for the rest of your adult academic career," she said. "Study for the test!"

Following your heart

At U of A, Jensen learned to ask for help and became more demanding of her professors now that she was paying for her classes. She studied molecular and cellular biology, physics, and chemistry.

When her college days were over, Jensen wasn't sure what to do next. She was always volunteering at the hospital, and loved it there. Yet she didn't see a brown doctor or a female doctor. Jensen credits her schoolteacher dad with encouraging her to follow her heart and become a medical doctor.

"Sometimes I think I have too big dreams for my little feet," Jensen confessed. "Yet, I have walked in other peoples' footsteps. Others will walk in mine. This is the time to begin your stories."

Scholarship recipient Dineé Dorame is Tábaahá (Water's Edge Clan), born for Naakai Dine' é (Mexican Clan) Her maternal grandfather is Honágháanii (One Walks Around Clan) and her paternal grandfather is Naakai Dine' é.

A graduate of Albuquerque High headed for Yale University, she was excited by Shelly's message on the need for young people to develop alternative energy. During high school, she worked as an engineering intern for Air Force research laboratories affiliated with Sandia.

She plans to study environmental engineering, with a focus on photovoltaic resources. Dorame is also hoping to play basketball at Yale, noting that she was the 2011 Albuquerque Metro student athlete of the year for girl's basketball.

Jaron Kee is Hashtl'ishnii (Mud Clan), born for Honágháanii (One Walks Around Clan). His maternal and paternal grandparents are Dibélzh'n' (Black Sheep Clan).

A graduate of St. Michael, Kee is entering an eight-year medical program at the University of New Mexico. One of only 28 students from the reservation and New Mexico to enter this prestigious program, Kee is committed to becoming a medical doctor.

During his senior year, he interned with Dr. Elizabeth Leister at Tséhootso' Medical Center where he volunteered in the pediatric clinic and was invited to see surgical procedures in the operating room.

Kee knows what to expect in his academic journey. He was fortunate to attend the Patty Iron Cloud Youth Initiative, a weeklong all-expenses-paid stay at George Washington University where he heard from Native American professionals in the health field.

"Their trails were crooked," he laughed.

'I will be a doctor'

Christian Brown's maternal grandmother is Kiyaa'áanii (Towering House Clan) and his maternal grandfather is Tl''z' lán' (Many Goats Clan). His is born for Bilagáana.

A graduate of Mountain Pointe High in Phoenix, he will enter Yale University and plans to major in molecular biophysics and biochemistry.

Brown believes his major is the most efficient way to meet his science and pre-med requirements while leaving time for art and music.

"I play sax, upright bass, and clarinet," he said. "I chose Yale because it has one of the best undergraduate symphonies. I'm planning to participate in the symphony.

"Eventually I'll be a doctor and work in Tuba City," he said. "My family is from Coppermine, nearby. Recently, my grandma got sick and had to come to the hospital. (Tuba City Regional Health Care Corp.) has excellent surgeons and doctors, but not enough to meet the needs of the people."

Mariah Claw is Tótsohnii (Big Water Clan), born for Tód'ch''i'nii (Bitter Water Clan). Her maternal grandfather is Dibélzh'n' (Black Sheep Clan) and her paternal grandfather is Ma'ii deeshgiizhinii (Coyote Pass Clan).

A graduate of Chinle High, she will attend Dartmouth in Hanover, N.H. She chose Dartmouth because the students are a tight-knit group.

"At first, Dartmouth wasn't at the top of my list, but a cousin who went there convinced me that it was 'cool,'" she said. "Dartmouth flew me in a couple of times, and I met a Native American group of students. We all know each other."

Claw plans to study biology, eventually focusing on sports medicine.

"I'm an athlete," she said. "I want to stay close to sports."

She hopes to be a walk-on softball and volleyball player for the Big Green.

Also a Gates Millennium Scholar, Claw thanked her parents and her advance placement English teacher, Parsifal Smith Hill, for helping her reach this turning point in her academic journey.

Paying for college

Cornelius Tsipai is Hashtl'ishnii (Mud Clan), born for Tótsohnii (Big Water Clan). His maternal grandfather is Shash dine'é (Bear Clan) and his paternal grandfather is Tód'ch''i'nii (Bitter Water Clan).

Tsipai graduated from Newcomb High and will attend Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo. He is among only 1,000 students out of 23,500 applicants to receive the Gates Millennium Scholarship.

Tsipai spoke of his determination to find ways to pay for his college education.

"Since freshman year in high school, my eyes were set on the Gates Millennium Scholarship because it's a full ride," he said. "My parents did not want me to live from paycheck to paycheck, like they do. They wanted me to go to college and become who I want to be.

"How to afford it? By senior year, I was hitting it hard, staying up 'til midnight, one o'clock in the morning, writing essays," he said.

"I want to become a counselor so I can mess with peoples' minds," joked Tsipai. "Truthfully, I want to help people express their emotions, to speak to me as a brother, to release their pain so they can become who they want to be. I want to help people stand up for themselves."

Kaene Antonio, a graduate of Window Rock High, will attend Arizona State University's Polytechnic Campus in south Phoenix. A recipient of the ASU Provost Scholarship, in addition to the Chief Manuelito award, Antonio is not committed to a major.

"Who knows what I'm going to do?" he said.

He said he is good in math and welding and hopes to combine those talents by becoming an engineer. He's both nervous and excited about going off on his own, meeting new people, and having new experiences.

Mom is main motivation

Kraig Shirley, a graduate of Winslow High, will attend Carlton College, a Division III school in Northville, Minn. Shirley enjoys football and basketball, but his focus is on academics. He plans to enter the fields of electrical engineering and computer science.

"Mom is my main motivation," he said. "When I was in high school, I would get 'whupped' if I brought home a B. She wanted nothing less than straight A's," laughed Shirley.

Andrew Tah, superintendent of schools for the Navajo Nation, voiced a key message stated throughout the Chief Manuelito Awards Ceremony.

"You have earnestly worked hard, thus far, for your educational goals," he said. "We look forward to celebrating when you receive your BA, MA, and even doctorate.

"We need leaders to continue to move the Navajo Nation forward," he said. "Parents, grandparents, and caretakers, continue to support your young people. You are the foundation for their success."

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