Navajo Nation Council honors top spelling bee participants on council floor

The top Navajo Nation spelling bee students are Natasha Smith, Kelly Haven, Cameron Full, Danielle Tsosie and Hannah Pengosro. Hannah will represent the Navajo Nation in the Scripps National Speilling Bee in May in Washington D.C. Submitted photo

The top Navajo Nation spelling bee students are Natasha Smith, Kelly Haven, Cameron Full, Danielle Tsosie and Hannah Pengosro. Hannah will represent the Navajo Nation in the Scripps National Speilling Bee in May in Washington D.C. Submitted photo

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - On April 19, the Navajo Nation Council recognized the top five Navajo Nation Spelling Bee participants who competed in the Navajo Times Spelling Bee March 17 at Navajo Technical University campus in Crownpoint, New Mexico.

The Health, Education, and Human Services Committee members, chair Jonathan Hale, vice chair Norman M. Begay, Amber Kanazbah Crotty, Nathaniel Brown, Nelson S. BeGaye, and Herman Daniels, Jr., recognized the students on the council floor and awarded the students with recognition plaques and pins for being the top spellers of the Navajo Nation. The Council Chamber filled with applause when HEHSC members awarded each student.

The top Navajo Nation Spelling Bee students are:

• Natasha Smith is in the seventh grade at Shonto Preparatory School. Her hobbies include drawing, reading, and enjoying her science classes at school. Spelling has encouraged her to pursue a career as a doctor in the future.

• Kelly Haven is a fifth grader at Tséhootsooí Intermediate Learning Center. She enjoys reading, making jewelry, traveling, and attending English and math classes. The joy of reading and having a mother as an English teacher has motivated her to become a competitive speller, which she plans to use when she becomes a surgeon in the future.

• Cameron Full is a homeschooled eighth grade student from Chinle, Arizona. Her interests include watching Japanese anime, listening to Korean pop music, reading, world history, and religious studies. Her future plan is to become an English teacher in a foreign country.

• Danielle Tsosie is a seventh grader at Tséhootsooí Middle School. Her hobbies include reading, painting, and spending time with animals. She plans to become a veterinarian or a nurse in the future. She became interested to be a speller when her language arts teacher recognized her as an excellent speller.

• Hannah Pengosro is in the sixth grade at Newcomb Middle School. Some of her interest include playing the flute, video games, and listening to music. Watching the movie, "Akeelah and the Bee," inspired her to become a competitive speller, which she intends to use when she becomes a lawyer in the future.

Crotty commended the students for their efforts and motivation to take part in a competitive academic competition.

"I am proud of the students' accomplishments," Crotty said. "Our children have the capability to finish tough competitions and we need to continue to support our children. I know the students will achieve their goals and dreams because they have the strength and resilience to accomplish anything in life."

Haven and Pengosro competed in the last rounds of the Navajo Nation Spelling Bee. Pengosro took the win and represents the Navajo Nation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May near Washington, D.C.

Hale congratulated the students on their outstanding academic achievements and for being role models for other Navajo youth.

"This is a great day to recognize your dedication to achieve your academic goals and dreams," Hale told the spellers. "Continue to strive to accomplish your academic goals and continue to help your parents with chores at home. Become a leader at home, school, and in the community because one day you will be governing the Navajo government."

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