Choctaw Nation names little, junior and senior princesses

Local News

May 20, 2008

From submitted reports The McAlester News-Capital Tue May 20, 2008, 10:13 AM CDT

Three Choctaw Nation District 11 princesses were crowned May 9 at the McAlester Choctaw Center.

The Choctaw Nation District 11 Little Miss Princess is Adriana Byington. First runner up was Cheyhoma Dugger. Second runner up was Callie Cheyenne Briggs.

The Choctaw Nation District 11 Junior Miss Princess is DaNetta Wilkerson. First runner up was Lakota Cheyenne Byington.

The Choctaw Nation District 11 Senior Princess is Stephanie Beshears. First runner up was Tabitha July.

Adriana Byington is the 11-year-old daughter of Tawana Byington and granddaughter of Wanda Byington of McAlester.

She is in the sixth grade at Parker Intermediate School. She has won awards in math and has been recognized by the faculty for her good behavior and academic performance. She is a member of the Parker Intermediate Band as a flute player. She enjoys sports, pow-wows, making fry bread and going to First Baptist Church.

Wilkerson is the 13-year-old daughter of Christy Cantrell and Dwight Wilkerson and the granddaughter of Dennis and Dena Cantrell. She attends the eighth grade at Crowder Public School.

She has high academic achievements and her teachers say she has leadership potential. Among her awards and honors are Superintendent’s Honor Roll, the Presidential Award of Excellence, Gifted and Talented, and attendance at the Congressional Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., in March 2008.

She and a team of three other girls were chosen to go to Boulder, Colo., for a leadership conference. From the Four Directions: Journey to Leadership Camp, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Native American Program is June 8-14.

Wilkerson likes softball, pow-wows, crafts, church camp and attending church. She belongs to the Alla Himmita 4-H Club, the Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board and the Pittsburg County Youth Advisory Board.

She has been named the Pittsburg County Chili Cook Off youth grand champion for four years. She shows goats at the county 4-H shows.

Beshears, of McAlester, is the 17-year-old daughter of Jason and Paula Beshears. She is a senior at McAlester High School. She enjoys horseback riding, fishing, baking pies, 4-H activities and being a part of her church’s youth choir.

Her awards include The Knight Life Code of Chievalty, Kiwanis Club of McAlester Youth of the Month in 2001, Pittsburg County Free Fair 2007 Champion in the junior meat division, and awards through 4-H for horticulture, pencil drawing, pie baking, posters, bread and cookie baking.

McAlester Mayor-elect Kevin Priddle was the master of ceremonies. Choctaw Nation District 11 Councilman Bob Pate welcomed everyone to the evening’s festivities.

The entrants modeled traditional Choctaw dreses and bead work.

In the talent competition for the junior division, Lakota Cheyenne Byington sang “He Loves Me” and Wilkerson sang “Sweet Bye & Bye.” Both young women sang the songs in the Choctaw language.

July and Beshears played “Amazing Grace” on their flutes.

All of the contestants received money, trophies and flowers from Councilman Pate.

He then crowned each princess with beaded crowns, and then presented them with their banners, flowers and trophies.

The crowns were beaded by Wallace Tuksa. In the background were three Native American murals painted by Jackie Brannon Correctional Center offenders.

Monica Blaine, Victoria Maurtino and Rebecca Acunna were the judges for the evening. Dena Cantral was the pageant coordinator. Janice Twist was co-coordinator.

The princesses will reign until May 2009.

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