A fun-filled day
Navajo Spring Fest has something for everyone

The car show attracted many people to a fundraiser for local schools in Navajo, N.M. on Saturday. About a dozen vehicles and one bike showed up for display. [Photo by Karen Francis / Independent]

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

NAVAJO, N.M. — People in Navajo, N.M., got the chance to enjoy a fun-filled day of activities while helping local pupils raise money with the Spring Fest 2008 at the Navajo Elementary School, Saturday.

Activities included a car show, 3-on-3 basketball tournament and an evening concert. The fifth graders benefited from the concert and raffle sales, while the Parent-Teacher Organization held the basketball tournament and some concessions.

Alvera Begay was one of the residents from Navajo who was enjoying the day’s activities with her daughter, niece and nephew.

“I wanted to bring the kids out mainly so they could see different types of events here in Navajo,” she said.  

She said that similar events are needed more often in Navajo because “there’s a lot of kids in the neighborhood and they have nothing to do on the weekends and it’s fun for them.”
Her favorite part about Spring Fest was the car show.

About a dozen people brought their cars to attract people, which they did.

Vernon Tsosie, the vice president of the PTO, organized the car show by inviting people to bring their cars in for display and even brought in his own.

“This is the first time that this community has had a car show,” he said. Tsosie got the idea for the show since he has been a member of the Native Car Club for eight years.

Several other Native Car Club members also showed up.
The PTO’s purpose in holding the basketball tournament was to raise funds for the purchase of a new marquee sign.

The 13-and-under tournament was a success, with seven boys teams and four girls teams entering for the chance to win T-shirts.

“It was a good turnout,” Orlando said. He added that the PTO will continue to hold fund raisers seeking at least $8,000 for the marquee.

“That marquee we’re talking about, it’s not going to be for just the school. We have a whole bunch of community members that comes here, so that’s why we included the whole community — to get some good feedback from them,” he said.

For the tournament, the Tremors took third place for the boys, the Navajo Bandits took second place and the Blue Devils won the championship. For the girls, third place went to the Young Hummingbirds, second place to the Ladybugs and first place to the Jokers.

Window Rock High School seniors sold concessions and Easter raffle tickets outside near the car show. Agnes Sagina, one of the students helping out to raise money, said that about 35 students will be going to Anaheim, Calif., to visit theme parks and the beach.

Sagina, who was cooking fry bread at the fund raiser, said that the class met its first goal of $7,000 and is now raising extra funds for the trip.

“Everyone had to put in a lot of hard work, dedication, weekends, time, money,” she said.

Ana Huskett, another senior, was also helping out serving food at the concession stand. She said that they have been fund raising since school started and she is looking forward to the trip to spend time with her friends.

Sagina, who is joining the U.S. Marines after graduating, said she was looking forward to having one last week with her friends before they all graduate and having something to remember from high school with the class trip.

Zonnie Notah Begay was selling 50-50 raffle tickets with her friends to raise money for the Navajo Elementary School fifth grade class trip. She said that the class has been raising money all year to make the trip to Flagstaff, Ariz.

Shantel Tapaha, also selling tickets, said that the class took a vote at the beginning of the school year and decided to go to Flagstaff.

Andrea Descharme said she was looking forward to “adventure” when going on the trip to Flagstaff.

Descharme said about the Spring Fest, “I think it’s pretty cool.” Her favorite part was helping out with the different activities.

Marvina Williams, another student helping out, said her favorite part was the basketball tournament because “we can run and get exercise.”

The evening concert was also held Saturday evening to raise funds for the fifth graders’ class trip.