Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program comes to Mesa

October 8, 12:01 PMPhoenix Travel ExaminerJay Hammond

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Looking higher. Copyright 2009

For 47 years, the Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program has been recognizing the beauty and brains of Arizona's Native American women. This year, the 49th Annual Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program is being held Saturday, October 10 at the Mesa Arts Center.

The Miss Indian Arizona program brings women, their families and friends, from many of the 22 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes residing in Arizona to the Valley for this wonderful event. Among the past titleholders of Miss Indian Arizona, the San Carlos Apache and Colorado River Indian tribes have had the most (8 each), followed closely by the Navajo Nation and the White Mountain Apache tribe (7 each) and the Tohono O'odham Nation (6) including Earleen Patricio, Miss Indian Arizona 2008,

The Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program launches the winner on an even greater journey, not just to a higher education, but also onto the national stage by participating in the Miss Indian America program. In fact, three Miss Indian Arizona titleholders have gone on to become Miss Indian America. Miss Indian Arizona participants have also gone on to participate in Miss Indian World  which is held in conjunction with the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow (scheduled next for April 22-24, 2010 in Albuquerque, New Mexico).

Mesa City Councilmember Dina Higgins (District 5) will address contestants and audience members at this year's Miss Indian Arizona event. She will focus her remarks on encouraging the youth of Arizona's native peoples, and especially young women, to pursue college and graduate degrees as well as careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“As a Licensed Professional Engineer, I am delighted to see women have made substantial gains over the past 20 years in earning science and engineering bachelor's degrees, but there are many opportunities women may be missing,” said Councilmember Higgins. “I hope these young women will pursue science and technology careers and I believe the Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program has done a great job of promoting women to join these fields.”

The Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program is a pageant with a focus on academics and community service for members of Arizona Indian Tribes between the ages of 17 and 24. Contestants may be in high school, college, or trade school. They may also be employed. The central characteristic is that all must wish to pursue their education. The young women participate in a program that represents Arizona Indian traditional principles and values through songs, dance, stories, dress and humor. They compete in six categories: interview, talent (contemporary or traditional), evening gown, traditional dress, oral presentation and personal interviews. The Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Miss Indian Arizona Association.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment beginning about an hour later. The Scholarship Program begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. The Mesa Arts Center is located at 1 E. Main St. in Mesa.