Caley Wesberry crowned Miss Indian Southeastern
Press Release Date: 10-6-2011
DURANT, Okla. – Miss Caley Wesberry was recently crowned Miss Indian Southeastern Oklahoma State University 2011-12.
Each year, Southeastern’s Native American Student Association (NASA) hosts the Miss Indian Southeastern Pageant to select a Native American female student to represent the organization and the University at tribal, local, educational and University events.
Pageant participants are required to: Submit an application that outlines their educational and career goals; 150-word essay, “Why I would like to be Miss Indian Southeastern; current photograph; three personal references; and proof of at least a 2.5 GPA.
At the pageant, participants are required to wear traditional tribal dress and demonstrate a talent.
The pageant was held Sept. 14 on the University campus. Wesberry wore a traditional Chickasaw dress made by Chickasaw elder Ms. Lou Carlton and played “Native” on the traditional Native American flute.
Wesberry studied with Mr. Brad Clonch, Choctaw artist and 2010 Native American Music Award winner. NASA president Joe Jefferson said, “Caley Wesberry will represent us well. The pageant was great and I was very pleased with our support from students and Southeastern administration.”
“Being chosen as Miss Indian Southeastern is a great honor,” Wesberry said. “I have enjoyed my time here and have made many good friends. Southeastern has provided an education that will prepare me for my future endeavors. I look forward to completing my last two semesters as a representative for all of Southeastern’s Native American students. I take pride in being a Native American woman and Southeastern student.”
Wesberry is one-fourth Chickasaw and Mississippi Choctaw. She is the daughter of Chris and Stacy Wesberry of Madill, Okla., and the granddaughter of Lewis and Lucretia Wesberry, Hendrix, Okla., the late Peggy and Joe Riddle, Ada, Okla., and Chuck Wasson, Dickinson, Texas. She has one younger brother, Leslie Wesberry, also a student at Southeastern.
Wesberry is a senior majoring in chemistry with a minor in biology. She will graduate in May 2012 and attend optometry school in the fall. Having recently interned at the Chickasaw Medical Center, her plans are to graduate from optometry school and return to the area to work for the Chickasaw Nation.
Since her selection as Miss Indian Southeastern in September, Caley has attended tribal gatherings and functions representing Southeastern and the student organization. She has attended the Seminole Nation Days in Seminole, Okla., the Chickasaw Nation Princess Pageant in Ada and the Chicksaw Nation Annual Meeting and Festival in Tishomingo, Okla.