By
Niusha Faghih
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA political science sophomore wins Miss Native American pageant
Sherrie Stanley, UA Civil Engineering Senior handed off her 1999-2000 Miss Native American University of Arizona title to Amber Lynn Roan, a political science sophomore last night.
An audience of approximately 150 people - mostly consisting of the American Indian community - were there to see Roan, a member of the Navajo tribe, receive her title as the 2000-2001 Miss Native American University of Arizona.
This is the pageant's 17th year.
"Amber was chosen on being an individual," said Tisha Shonnie, the 1998-99 Miss Native American University of Arizona, and one of the six judges on the panel. "Everybody has their own package and it was based on what each person (judge) saw in the different categories, how much they knew on what they were presenting on including personality, confidence and public speaking."
Four contestants participated in the pageant, which consisted of three events including a contemporary and traditional talent contest and an impromptu question that was picked out of a hat.
The three other contestants: Sausha Rae Johnson, nursing sophomore of the Dine tribe, first runner-up; Janelle Blake Jensen, a molecular and cellular biology junior of the Navajo tribe, second runner-up and Latohya Lynn Hunt, a business and public administration junior of the Navajo tribe all wanted to represent their Native American heritage in order to inform others that there are Native Americans on this campus.
The requirements of the pageant were being a UA student, having a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, being affiliated with a tribe, and committing to the duties of the position once they are chosen, said Travis Lane, a political science junior who works in the Native American Student Affairs office.
"They (the contestants) define the role themselves, they are a role model for the UA and the Tucson community," Lane said.
Valerie Lavender, a first-time judge with the NavaNet Organization, a Navajo volunteer organization for Navajo families and students, said that she looked for someone with a cultural identity, professionalism, poise, and if the person was able to identify with the community, either in the UA community or the Native American community.
Roan performed a puppet show depicting a morality story for the contemporary part of the pageant and sang two songs in her native Navajo language for the traditional part of the talent show.
"I want to try to educate the young and the older people because I believe that education will get someone somewhere because nowadays, technology is expanding and we need to educate more people, especially Native Americans ," said Roan for her impromptu question regarding what she would do first in furthering building efforts of the Native American nation.
Roan said she intends to use her platform as an opportunity to let others know of the Native American culture, and to be a role model for her community.
Other awards presented at the pageant were an academic award and leadership award to Johnson and an essay award to Jensen.
The pageant was held at 7 p.m. yesterday at Kiva Auditorium in the Education building.
