TC District's Newest Princess
Yvette Shorty named TC Junior High Princess 2005-06

By Rosanda Suetopka Thayer/TC District Media
Yvette Shorty, eighth grader from Tuba City Junior High School recently won the crown and title of TC Junior High Princess 2005-06. Shorty is the daughter of Laverna and Darryl Shorty, a native of Tuba City from the Tobacco Clan born for Tzil TaÕh Kiyaani Clan.

By Rosanda Suetopka Thayer/TC District Media Yvette Shorty, eighth grader from Tuba City Junior High School recently won the crown and title of TC Junior High Princess 2005-06. Shorty is the daughter of Laverna and Darryl Shorty, a native of Tuba City from the Tobacco Clan born for Tzil TaÕh Kiyaani Clan.

TUBA CITY -- Yvette Shorty, 13, won a stiff competition for the title of Miss Tuba City Junior High Princess 2005-06 on Nov. 28.

A native of Tuba City, daughter of Laverna and Darryl Shorty, a member of the Navajo Nation from the Tobacco Clan born for Tzil Ta'h Kiyaani Clan, Shorty is an eighth grader at Tuba City Junior High School.

She competed in both a contemporary talent and native traditional knowledge event which also highlighted current academic promise and on-going model student behavior.

Shorty performed a short ballet number for her contemporary talent and spoke fluently in the Navajo language about her traditional Navajo rug dress, describing from head to toe detail about her "womanly" clothing all the while exhibiting grace and confidence.

This year's new princess competed against three other junior high contestants, and has much "princess experience" under belt, which showed throughout the evening's competition.

Shorty has been both Miss Western Navajo Teen and Little Miss Western Navajo. Each of these past contests required the same amount of preparation, skill and innate knowledge of her traditional language and culture.

While Shorty publicly thanked and attributed her Navajo language to her parents and sisters, she also deeply acknowledged her teachers at TC District starting in formative years at Tuba City Primary through the Navajo Language programs offered through the K-12 curriculum.

Judges for the TC Junior High event were Former Navajo Nation First Lady Regina Hale, Honorable Navajo Nation Judge Jennifer Benally, Felicia Barlow of Moencopi Day School, Thomas Hatathlie, TC Department of Mental Health and Gary Davis, TC Department of Behavioral Health.

Other contestants included:

¥ Loveleen Hurley, eighth grader, age 13, daughter of Sarah and Larry Hurley from the Zuni Edgewater Clan.

¥ Shanee Natoni, seventh grader, age 12, daughter of Melissa and Eugene Natoni, from the Tabaaha-Edgewater Clan.

¥ Shelbi Leon, seventh grader, age 12, daughter of Levon Hatathlie and Paul Leon from the Bilhbitoni Clan.

To request Shorty's guest appearance, TC District's newest princess, at a public community event contact Dennis Bedonie, cultural counselor at Tuba City Junior High School at 928-283-1192 or the TC District Office of Public Relations at 928-283-1072.

(Rosanda Suetopka Thayer is Public Relations Director for Tuba City Unified School District.)

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