The Daily O’Collegian

The Miss American Indian OSU Scholarship Pageant is back.

The Native American Student Association, which has hosted the event for four years, had to replace the 2007 pageant with a special reception where the judges awarded the title to leisure studies sophomore Rochell Werito, who was the only contestant registered.

Werito, who organizes this year’s pageant, said she will put up fliers, hold meetings and send out messages to attract more students this semester.

“I was hoping there were going to be more [applicants],” she said.

Four contestants are participating in the 2008 pageant as opposed to the past year when only one student applied.

Gentry Smiling, a broadcast journalism junior, Ashleigh Coser, a psychology sophomore, Kaylor Gross, a communication sciences and disorders junior and Mandy Lyons, an international business senior, will compete for the crown and a $1,000 scholarship. The runner-up will receive $500 and the second runner-up $250.

Werito, NASA princess 2004 and current Miss Indian Oklahoma Jessica Moore, and Miss American Indian OSU 2005 Krisha Blevins shared their experiences of their reign and explained the pageant procedures to the applicants during a meeting last Thursday at the Multicultural Student Center Conference Room.

The pageant is scheduled for April 12.

Werito said this year’s candidates must start working on their platform issue that must present a social issue concerning Native Americans. During last year’s reception, Werito pointed out the importance of preserving and revitalizing Native American languages.

Sasha Bighair, former Miss American Indian and NASA president, said seven students were interested in running for Miss American Indian OSU 2007 in fall 2006. But as the pageant day came closer no one seemed interested any more.

“I kept pushing back the dates to turn in the applications as well, but most girls said they did not think they could handle the responsibilities of the title,” Bighair said.

Moore, who is also NASA cultural chair, said many applications are taken but not a lot are turned in.

“I’m not sure why, but I think some girls may be scared to do the actual pageant,” Moore said. “I want to encourage all interested ladies to at least try, and it is not that scary, trust me.”

Moore said last year NASA extended the deadline hoping more students would apply, but nobody did. The pageant judges decided to crown Werito.

“We wanted to be fair to Rochell since she did have her stuff in on time,” Moore said. “Ro has done a wonderful job representing the title this year.”

Robin Williams, NASA’s faculty adviser said the pageant can help introversive Native American women break their shells.

“A woman can grow from this process,” Williams said.

Moore said being a NASA member is not a requirement to apply for Miss American Indian OSU. All female Native American students can participate.

“It is good that a contestant is already in NASA, but it is not required,” Moore said. “I had contestants in the past who were not involved before, but after the pageant they were very involved and that is what we want to see from those who are not involved in NASA.”

Williams said Miss American Indian OSU must become an ambassador of NASA, the OSU Native American community and OSU.

“She exemplifies the strength that the Native American community at OSU possesses,” Williams said.

Werito said being Miss American Indian OSU is one of the best experiences of her life. She said riding in the Muskogee Creek Nation parade and the OSU Fall Contest Powwow were the two activities she enjoyed the most last year.

“It will fulfill you in a way that you can’t explain,” Werito said. “It has meant so much to me, and I hope who is crowned next will have an unforgettable reign.”