By Anna Corbett, Opinion Editor
Jayla Lucas is a junior majoring in elementary education and a women's soccer team member – and she’s also a pageant queen.
Lucas is from Catoosa, Oklahoma, where last year, she won the title of Miss Northeastern Oklahoma Indian. She is part of the Cherokee tribe and often expresses her pride in her family heritage.
“I have been blessed to speak on my platforms as Miss NEO Indian 2022-2024 in some classes here at Newman University,” Lucas said, adding that she loves sharing her culture with classmates.
Miss Northeastern Oklahoma Indian is a pageant put on by Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College annually to celebrate Native-American culture. The contestants are judged based on traditional dress and regalia, their on-stage performances and their tribal language abilities. Contestants also are expected to maintain a high GPA and to gather recommendation letters. Lucas’s pageant platform was “Native Americans in the education system and dropout rate.”
“I've always had a passion for education, which is currently my degree focus at Newman,” she said. “…My journey began with a deep-rooted love for my culture and a desire to make a difference.”
The pageant has given Lucas the ability to speak to other Native-American students about the importance of their education while also extending her knowledge of her culture. She is expected to attend events such as powwows that allow her to tap into her culture.
She hopes to use her degree to make a difference and to help create more inclusive and supportive environments for students in the classroom.
Her pageant reign is coming to an end, but she hopes to develop programs that address the needs of Native-American students.
“I believe that by combining my cultural insights with my academic background, I can make a meaningful impact and help pave the way for future generations of Native American students,” Lucas said.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Jayla Lucas
