44 Students Honored at 2023 Chief Azul Awards Ceremony
June 2, 2023
Velia Moncada
Gila River Indian News
Forty-four students were honored for academics and leadership at the 2023 Chief Antonio Azul Awards banquet May 19 at Gila River Resorts & Casinos—Wild Horse Pass. The Gila River Indian Community’s Tribal Education Department (TED) hosted the event, which included remarks from Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and Lt. Gov. Monica Antone.
Chief Antonio Azul is recognized as the Community’s last known traditional chief. He served as a vital protector of the Community’s land and people and was a strong advocate for the Community’s education.
“The Chief Azul Award is the highest award of achievement,” said Lt. Gov. Antone in her opening remarks to the recipients. “Chief Azul was the first to talk about the future for our people. To the recipients, remember from the heart where that comes from.”
Chief Antonio Azul Awards are given in two categories: The Chief Azul Scholar Award and the Chief Azul Citizenship Award. Chief Azul Scholar applicants can attend any level of school and must have a grade point average of 3.6 or higher with school attendance above 90 percent, including extracurricular activities. The Chief Azul Citizenship Award recognizes high school seniors with leadership qualities.
Both applications must be submitted by school officials or a parent/guardian on behalf of the students, and the citizenship award also requires students to provide an essay.
This year, over 100 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and undergraduate students applied for the 2023 Chief Antonio Azul Awards. Twenty-nine received the Chief Azul Scholar Award and 15 were bestowed the Chief Azul Citizenship Award. Students who receive the citizenship are awarded a fully-funded trip to Washington, D.C., to visit congressional landmarks.
“Each and every one of you have amazing stories of achievement, of overcoming, of being resilient [and] representing for your family,” Said Gov. Lewis. “This is a vision that lives on that he [Chief Azul] had, and that our ancestors have that lives on with all the awardees.”
2023 Chief Antonio Azul Awards
Scholar Recipients
4th Grade
Jazmyn Brown, Scholar
Rosalie James, Honorable Mention
Sariah Soke, Honorable Mention
5th Grade
Mialana Piedro, Scholar
Tayva Torres, Scholar
Amaya Marquez, Honorable Mention
6th Grade
D’Rey Mark, Scholar
Kalali Kagenveama, Honorable Mention
Caleb Lujan, Honorable Mention
7th Grade
Amira Quiroz, Scholar
Gavin Molina, Honorable Mention
Rebecca Cox, Honorable Mention
8th Grade
Bria Hutchinson, Scholar
Philbert Jackson, Honorable Mention
Ellie Soke, Honorable Mention
9th Grade
Ava Cachola, Scholar
Pricilla Notah Bighorse, Honorable Mention
Sayuri Jackson, Honorable Mention
10th Grade
Peyton Duran, Scholar
Natasha Juan, Honorable Mention
Aiyanna Jackson, Honorable Mention
11th Grade
Alayna Mark, Scholar
Gilberto Villarreal Honorable Mention
12th Grade
Angel Marquez, Scholar
Alexsia Duran, Honorable Mention
Tristan Paul, Honorable Mention
Undergraduate College Student
Yvette Carpio Scholar
McKenna White, Honorable Mention
Nicholas Tapia, Honorable Mention
2023 Chief Antonio Azul Awards
Citizenship Recipients
Alianya Pablo
Angel Marquez
Anna Vasquez
Antonio Escalante
Danielle Morago
Denise Jackson
Destiny Garnica
Gracie Mark
Isaiah Soke
Jacob Ochoa
Jovan Soto
Jr Enos
Mallory Thompson
Marisa Rodriguez
Melanie Thompson
