The Chief Manuelito Scholarship program was created by the Navajo Nation in 1980 to honor high-achieving high school graduates. It is named after Chief Manuelito, Hastiin Ch’ilhaajiin (1818-1893), who advocated for education and the preservation of Navajo tradition and culture. Students who meet the criteria for this scholarship receive $7,000 per academic year to cover their direct educational expenses at a post-secondary institution. Recipients of the Chief Manuelito Scholarship must maintain a 3.0 GPA and complete 12 or more semester credit hours of college-level graded courses each academic term.
According to Dr. Buu Nygren, Navajo Nation President, in a statement, the Northern Navajo Agency had the most scholarship recipients this year with 31 students, followed by Fort Defiance Agency with 29 recipients. Listed below are the following Central Consolidated School District’s award recipients:
- Bee, Kaden Nelson; Kirtland Central High School, San Juan College
- Begay, Nevaughn; Shiprock High School, University of Arizona
- Bitsilly, Ashton C.; Shiprock High School, University of New Mexico
- Campbell, Lewis; Shiprock High School, New Mexico State University
- Morgan, Octavia N.; Shiprock High School, Northern Arizona University
- Shorty, Makayla; Shiprock High School, University of New Mexico
- Walter, Nyah; Shiprock High School, Fort Lewis College