A University of Arkansas at Fayetteville senior has been named Miss Cherokee.
Sunday Plum of Tahlequah, Okla., earned the honor at a competition Saturday.
Plum, 21, studies animal sciences and is also a member of the Native American Student Association.
She was awarded a $3,000 scholarship after she impressed judges who evaluated contestants based on Cherokee language skills, cultural presentations and impromptu interviews.
Plum discussed the significance of the Cherokee tear dress and spoke about her goal to boost college success rates through creation of a mentoring program in which Cherokee college students discuss college life with high school students.
Plum will serve for the next year as a good-will ambassador for the Cherokee Nation, which has more than 320,000 registered citizens.
— Jaime Adame