First Oklahoma State University Miss American Indian Pageant Scheduled April 16

Nestor Gonzales
Communication Services
Oklahoma State University
(405) 744-9080
04/07/05

The first Miss American Indian Oklahoma State University Scholarship Pageant is scheduled Saturday, April 16, at 7 p.m. in the Wes Watkins Center on the OSU campus.  The Watkins center is located at the corner of North Washington and Hall of Fame Avenue. Admission is $5. Tickets may be purchased in 320 Student Union at OSU-Stillwater or at the door before the pageant.  

The Miss American Indian OSU Pageant is sponsored by the Native American Student Association and the Multicultural Student Center at OSU. 

Pageant coordinator Jessica Moore said the mission of the Miss American Indian OSU Scholarship Pageant is to further develop the leadership, confidence and creativity of American Indian students on the OSU-Stillwater campus, while selecting an outstanding student to represent OSU, the Native American Student Association and its American Indian community as a role model and ambassador.

Moore said the pageant is not just an OSU event, but a community event.  The Native American Student Association hopes to make the community more aware of Native American culture and its issues. Contestants will be judged on their knowledge of Native American issues.

The newly crowned Miss American Indian OSU will receive a $1,000 scholarship and represent OSU and the Native American Student Association at  campus functions and activities across Oklahoma.  She also will be responsible for coordinating next year’s scholarship pageant. The first runner-up will receive a $500 scholarship, with the second runner-up receiving a $250 scholarship. 

The three contestants: Krisha Blevins of Stillwater, Hidatsa Nation; Julie Bogart of Broken Arrow, Cherokee Nation; and Kristie LeRoy of Pawnee, Ponca, Pawnee, Iowa, Omaha Nations, will be interviewed by judges at a reception before the pageant.  The interview accounts for 30 points.  The contestants will present a platform issue and model traditional American Indian dress for a combined 35 points. The remaining 35 points are based on extemporaneous questioning and modeling of evening wear.

The contestants are required to be full-time undergraduate students during their Miss American Indian OSU reign, have an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher and be at least 18 years of age. For more information about the pageant, call Jessica Moore or Pete Coser at (405) 744-5481.

For information about this page, send e-mail to Nestor Gonzales.