Congratulations to the Office of Indian Education's 2009 Native American Student Artist Competition winners! The competition was open to all American Indian and Alaska Native students in Grades Pre-K through 12. A total of 604 students from 30 states submitted works in a variety of media.
Entries relate to the 2009 theme Tradition is My Life, Education is My Future and reflect the promise and importance of pursuing an education for native youth. Winning artists will receive a certificate, engraved plaque and art materials. Winning writers will also receive a certificate and engraved plaque, as well as a flash drive and electronic dictionary. Thank you to all who participated!
View winning art entries (PDF)
View winning writing entries (PDF)
Pre-Kindergarten
1st Place: "Learning for All Children" by Mia Allen (Cherokee)
2nd Place: "I am Bear Clan" by Gavin French (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)
3rd Place: "My Love" by Amber Roy (Northern Paiute/M'Chigeeng Ojibwe)
Grades K-2
1st Place: "Tradition Guides My Future" by Aubrey Brown (Cherokee), 2nd grade
2nd Place: "Moving Tradition Toward Education" by Kinley Soap (Cherokee), Kindergarten
3rd Place: "Believing in Myself" by Sonja Mendoza (Gila River Indian Community), 1st grade
Grades 3-5
1st Place: "The Quilt of Traditions" by Caleb Williamson (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians), 3rd grade
2nd Place: Untitled by Lara Yazzie (Navajo), 5th grade
3rd Place: "Traditional Culture" by Candace Jefferson (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians), 4th grade
Grades 6-8
1st Place: "Catching My Dreams Through Education" by Paige Fourkiller (Cherokee), 7th grade
2nd Place: "Education Tree" by Sabre Billie (Seminole Tribe of Florida), 6th grade
3rd Place: Untitled by Uyvaya Lomakema (Hopi), 8th grade
Grades 9-10
1st Place: "Earth's Classroom" by Santana Shorty (Navajo), 10th grade
2nd Place: Untitled by Coleman Stevens (Oneida Indian Nation), 9th grade
3rd Place: "Student" by Kayla Soares (United Houma Nation), 9th grade
Grades 11-12
1st Place: Untitled by Macklin Becenti (Navajo), 11th grade
2nd Place: "Student" by Michelle Zahgotah (White Mountain Apache Tribe), 12th grade
3rd Place: "Vision of Life" by Otis Rustin (San Carlos Apache/Jemez Pueblo), 12th grade
Honorable Mention
"Education in Two Worlds" by Jalen Kemble (Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma), 9th grade
"Tradition is My Life/Education is My Future" by Anna Muselmann (Cherokee), 11th grade
"Student" by Reyberta Kessay (White Mountain Apache Tribe), 12th grade
2009 Writing Winners
Grades 6-8
1st Place: "Ways of Life" by Evan Baca (San Juan Pueblo), 7th grade
2nd Place: "Tradition is My Life, Education is My Future" by Mariah Coffee (Warm Springs), 8th grade
3rd Place: "The Pueblo Ways" by Ashley Salter (San Juan Pueblo), 7th grade
Grades 9-10
1st Place: "Voices to Remember" by Daphne Coriz (Santo Domingo Pueblo), 10th grade
2nd Place: "Old Lessons for New Horizons" by Sean LittleCook (Ponca), 9th grade
3rd Place: "My Sacred Bowl of Traditions" by Kinsley Candelaria (San Felipe), 10th grade
Grades 11-12
1st Place: "Multicultural Learning" by Angela Pacheco (Santo Domingo Pueblo), 12th grade
2nd Place: Untitled by RedHorse Blackelk Jim (Navajo/Lakota), 11th grade
3rd Place: "Tradition is My Life, Education is My Future" by Zack Ellison (Cherokee/Osage), 11th grade
