Keifer Taylor (center), a Cherokee Central Schools Stars/Dreamcatchers student, receives a Tribal Council Merit Award from Yellowhill Rep. David Wolfe (left) and Birdtown Rep. Tunney Crowe during the annual Tribal Council Awards Day program at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds on Friday, May 16. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
The annual Tribal Council Awards Day program was held on Friday, May 9 at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds.
“Today, we are here to celebrate our academic achievers,” said Chairperson Terri Henry as she opened the event. “Before we get started today, I want to recognize our former Council Chairman Dan McCoy for initiating this awards ceremony 14 years ago.”
She went on to say, “The Tribal Council Awards are intended to recognize the merits of our Cherokee students in academic achievement and citizenship. Tribal Council, I express my gratitude to you all for your support commitment to make this event meaningful for everyone.”
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The following EBCI tribal members were honored:
New Kituwah Academy
Kyndra Postoak, Kaden Stephens, Alexis Motola, Jaime Panther, Ismael Matamoros, Naomi Taylor, Eza McCoy Magaha, Eva Welch, Tsini (Andi) McCoy, Emma Taylor, Donavon Groenewold, Praire Toineeta
Cherokee Central Schools
Pre-K
Lexi Daniels, Utsela (You-Jay-La) Saunooke, Keedan “Trae” Drakeford, Teela Ross, Phillip Saunooke, Zaynon Taylor, Jayanna Thompson, Me-Li Hornbuckle, Reggie Hyatt, Emilee Brady
Best All-Around: Chloe Locust
Kindergarten
Marleigh Aguilera, Kiera Toineeta, Leland Locust, Jadence Saunooke, Jesse Wildcatt, Ayden Lambert, Sara Toineeta, Suri Watty, Nikolai Thompson, Conner Junaluska
Best All-Around: Hayden Bowling
1st grade
Jessie Hernandez, Cameron George, Kaylee Farmer, Brandon Santiago, Isabelle Fourkiller Raby, Malla Bradley, J.C. Porter, Emerald “Emma” QuiJada, Julianne Smart, Alexis Davis
Best All-Around: Amiya Lequire
2nd grade
Henry Wachacha, Dillon Bigwitch, Hermione Loshi Ward, Jenna Cruz, Awee Walkingstick, Kaeson McCoy, Ann Toineeta, George Saunooke, Davian Pheasant, Kenyon Martin
Best All-Around: Ileyeni (Yan) Wolfe
3rd grade
Kalina Blanton, Tanin Esquivel, Chaymbe Cucumber, Kyra West, Avlin Welch, Jackline Reece Lossiah, Hezekiah Eli Bird, Fala Welch, Kayandra Youngdeer, Hayden McCoy
Best All-Around: Anthony Lossiah
4th grade
Evan Caley, Cameron Lane, Malaki Fourkiller Raby, Tyra Brown, Keagan Curtice, Vivian Ross, Isabelle Lambert, Chloe Lambert, Woodrow Lossiah, Danasia Toineeta
Best All-Around: Kaelin Jones
5th grade
Anthony J. Allison, Zoey Walkingstick, Felicity Watty, Destiny Mills, Rossie Wachacha, Kalista Luther, Jayce Daniels, Christina Saunooke, Emma Wolfe, Rhyan Girty
Best All-Around: Dreyton Long
Cherokee Central Schools Stars/Dreamcatchers
Gabriella Gayossa, Dailin “Jogeta” Panther, Keifer Taylor
Best All-Around: Jimmy Tsali Welch
6th grade
Awee Sequoyah, Shiah Pheasant, Mykel Salili Lossiah, Lauren Luther, Tierney Bradley, Somersey Gammon, Cameron “Hayes” Reed, Kimberly Hendrix, Logan Lequire, Maiya Davis
Best All-Around: Amaya Toineeta
7th grade
Ietan Reed-Littlejohn, Mariana Reyes, Sylas Davis, Juanita Paz-Chalacha, Jaron Lossiah, Damian Blanton, Jaia Watty, Adrianna Gomez, Sterling Santa-Maria, Savannah Owle
Best All-Around: Jacelyn James
8th grade
Shelby Wolfe, Tiarra Toineeta, Tristin Bottchenbaugh, Isiah Zane Bowman, Kyra Sneed, Lidia Ramirez, Shannon Wolfe, CeAnna Saunooke, Macie J. Welch, Marley Bradley
Best All-Around: Scarlett Guy
9th grade
Avery Guy, Kendra Panther, K-Lynn Jackson, Autumn Endros, Jeffery Girty, Jayce Watty, Dawson Wilnoty, Devonna Reed, Mikhail “Jay” Swimmer, Richard Smith
Best All-Around: Cade Carrol
10th grade
Laurel Welch, Tysha Sampson, Virginia Grant, Bree Stamper, Christian Ensley, Davis Littlejohn, Daniel Griffin, Annaleata Montoya, Emily Kayonnie, Kieran Sequoyah
Best All-Around: Brittany Driver
11th grade
Abbigayle Wahneetah, Kristen “Lacy” Arch, Ashley Bradley, Nicholas Swayney, Jaron Bradley, Brandon Buchanan, Peri Wildcatt, Xan Sadongei, Kaycee Lossiah, Dre Crowe
Best All-Around: Kendall Toineeta
12th grade
Monique Paul, Miranda Smith, Jessica Lambert, Kayla Pheasant, Tagan Crowe, Constance Anna Cline, Earl Carrol, Priscilla Squirrel, Hunter Lambert, Jalon Lossiah
Best All-Around: Taran Swimmer
Smokey Mountain Elementary
Haley Kirkland, Amila Lossie, Kyria Neal Swayney, Ian D. Huskey, Colin Crowe, Thomas Pheasant, Kashlyn Driver, Kevonna Tushka, Faith Shuler, Raylen Bark
Best All-Around: Pamela Swayney
Smoky Mountain Middle
Nathaniel Crowe, Alyssa Tramper, Wesley Wildcatt, Brianna Ison, Danika Huskey, Taelynn Crowe, Alannah Tushka, Zabayon George, Shianne Arch, Tony Bernhisel
Best All-Around: Nataya Huskey
Smoky Mountain High
Teresa Long, Helen Junaluska, Reva Bradley, Jeremy Parker, Davan Fourkiller Raby, Robert Zane Huskey, Darion Powell, Abbygayle Swayney, Evan Kayne Howard, Logan Arch
Best All-Around: Jonah Lossiah
Swain County East Elementary
Marlee Hicks, Camden Morris-Hill, Ian Watty, Davisia (Dee Dee) Teesateskie, Blake Sain, Kaiya Vestel, Toby McCoy, Maria Reyes, Rosa Reyes, Amaya Hicks
Best All-Around: Ayden Isaac Evans
Swain County West Elementary
Sylas Stanberry, Kaylee Rickman, Faith LeAnn Murray, Mason Cochran, Kane Jones, Taylor Rickman, Dylan Cochran, Sara Mae Swartz, Shona O. Cole, Haley Lossiah
Best All-Around: Kaytlin Jones
Swain County Middle
Serena Hart, Cody Long, Joshua Ray Hornbuckle, Asija Meyers, Lynsey Beck, Jasmine Hornbuckle, Alyssa Haymond, Shelby Teesateskie, Isiah “Ice” Littlejohn, Lynsey Hicks
Best All-Around: Ayla Cruz
Swain County High
Gabrielle Jones, Brett Treadway, Lexi Lambert, Caitlyn Dills, Kayla Johnson, Spencer McCoy, Melody Little, Elizabeth Bible, Kristina Cloer, Chloe Blythe
Best All-Around: Alea Tisho
Fairview School
Izayah Shelton, Trinity Underwood, Kenneth Fox, Mathias Saunooke, Benjamin Saunooke, Aiden Taylor, Cassandra Bradley, Keegan Reed
Best All-Around: Koryasha Leigh-Bowman
Scotts Creek School
Dalilah Littlejohn, Draven Wade, Annie Sims Bigmeat, Chloe Ledford, Summer Hornbuckle, Alex Smith, Julianna Welch, Kara Sutton
Best All-Around: Amiya Sutton
Graham County Schools – Elementary
Christian Cole Phillips, Zoie Schuler, Jacob Teesateskie, Natalie Haney, Kyle Fink, Dasan Gross, Troy Jones, Jian Ann Lossiah, Nathan Fisher, Querida Guerrero
Best All-Around: Jobie Garland
Graham County Schools – Middle
Madison Elizabeth Orr, Caryn A. Orr, Zoie Lambert, A.J. Ornelas, Kira Haney, Sequoyah Jade Postell, Ryen Bird, Erin Teesateskie, Dustin Smoker
Best All-Around: Autumn Shawn Ellington
Graham County Schools – High
Claudia Shay Jumper, Lydia Crowe, Forrest Long, Brianna Jumper, Caleb Teesateskie, Cruz Galaviz, Rebecca Teesateskie, Hannah Ellington, Zane Wachacha, Tyler Rivera
Best All-Around: Katelyn Black
Murphy High
Ashley Herrin, Constance Owl
Andrews School
Sydney Postell, Shaylon Rattler, Shahannah Rattler, Cheynee Rattler
Best All-Around: Karra Postell
Mountain Discovery Charter Schools
Elias E. Watkins, Syler S. Watkins, Levi P. Watkins
Best All-Around: Kayman Feagans
Pisgah
Devon Cabe
