Arizona American Indian Excellence in Leadership Past Awardees 2017 Awardees Michael Allison Yvonne Fortier Pascua Yaqui Spirit of the Heard Award Arlene Joyce Hughes Akimel O otham Jacob Bernal Colorado River Indian Tribes Outstanding Woman of the Year Award - Treena Parvello Yvette Ventura Salt River Materials Group Friend of the Community Award - City of Phoenix Greg Stanton, Mayor Volunteer of the Year Award Wells Fargo Native Peoples Team Member Network MacGregor Gordon Hualapai Shiloh Hayes-Begay Valeria Salcido
2016 Awardees Urban Giff Pima, Gila River Indian Community Dr. Alberta Arviso Spirit of the Heard Award Roxanne Swentzell Santa Clara Pueblo Jacob Moore Outstanding Woman of the Year Award - Dr. Karletta Chief Friend of the Community Award - Susan Levy Native Health Native Innovation Inc. Volunteer of the Year Award Rosetta Walker Rosebud Sioux Michelle Powskey Hualapai Tribe Jarren Barlow Gene Little San Carlos Apache Kera Benally
Outstanding JR High School Student Award - Kylie Hunts-In-Winter Standing Rock Sioux 2015 Awardees Rodney Lewis Gila River Indian Community Lucille Watahomigie Hualapai Tribe Spirit of the Heard Award Herman Honanie Hopi Tribe Dr. Manley Begay Outstanding Woman of the Year Award - Patty Ferguson-Bohnee Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe Friend of the Community Award - Canyon Records Robert Doyle, Owner Maria Bartlett Pascua Yaqui Tribe Yellow Bird Productions Volunteer of the Year Award Robert Johnston Muscogee Creek and Choctaw Waylon Phillips San Carlos Apache
Izaiah Lopez Kristiann Ferreira San Carlos Apache 2014 Awardees Steve Stallings Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians Karen A. Thorne Gila River Indian Community Spirit of the Heard Award Ernest Siva Morongo Band of Mission Indians Robert Roessel Outstanding Woman of the Year Award - Theresa Price Hopi and Sunrise Park Resort Friend of the Community Award - Bob Nuss Drumbeat Indian Arts, Owner Hannah Allen Dine and Cherokee
Justin Tyler Susan White Mountain Apache Amanda Delphy Pueblo of Acoma Junior High Student Award Ryan Tiger Stiffarm San Carlos Apache, Gros Ventre, and Acoma Pueblo Junior High Student Award Kiarra Spottsville 2013 Awardees John R. Lewis Mojave, Pima, and LuAnn Leonard Hopi Randy Kemp Euchee, Muscogfee, and Choctaw Outstanding Woman of the Year Award Mary Kim Titla San Carlos Apache Arizona Indian Gaming Association Friend of the Community Award Arizona Science Center
Outstanding College Student Award Quentin Begay Outstanding College Student Award Ruby Steele Hualapai Outstanding High School Student Award Nicole Lucero Junior High Student Award Nidara Mitchell Outstanding High School Student Award Kailey LaRue Toney Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community Junior High Student Award Taishiana Tsosie 2012 Awardees Dr. Peterson Zah Octaviana Trujillo Yaqui Dr. John Molina Yaqui Outstanding Woman of the Year Award Linda Benally
Outstanding Woman of the Year Award Vice President Bernadine Burnette Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Times Friend of the Community Award Steve Saffron Outstanding College Student Award Josefina Blas Outstanding College Student Award Trudie Jackson Outstanding High School Student Award Zachary Cooper Outstanding High School Student Award Blackhawk Dodge
2011 Awardees Dr. Eddie Brown Tohono O Otham/Pascua Yaqui Alberta Tippeconnic Jason Coochwytewa Isleta Pueblo/Hopi Au Authum Ki, Margaret Rodriguez Owner Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community Outstanding Woman of the Year Award Loretta Damon Friend of the Community Award Captain Catherine Witte Outstanding College Student Award Cher Thomas Gila River Indian Community Outstanding High School Student Award Dillon Dayea Junior High Student Award Anthony McCabe Junior High Student Award Arianna Taru Turtle Mountain and White Earth Tribes
2010 Awardees Chris Deschene () Outstanding Woman of the Year Award Joan Timeche (Hopi) Edwin Gonzalez-Santin (Taino/Yaruba/Spanish/French) Phyllis J. Bigpond Lifetime Achievement Award Denise Homer. Gloria Lowrie, Owner, Pace Pacific PACE Pacific Corporation (Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indiana) High School Student of the Year Kendrick Freeland () Friend of the Community Award Paula Hale High School Student of the Year - Jonathan Hernandez (San Carlos Apache) High School Student of the Year - Kahara Hodges, Junior High Student of the Year Mateo TreeTop, Lakota/Hidatsa
Outstanding Man of the Year Robin Fohrenkam Gila River Indian Community 2009 Awardees Kent C. Ware Sr Lifetime Achievement Award Joe Hosteen Kellwood Phyllis J. Bigpond Lifetime Achievement Award Delia Carlyle Ak-Chin Indian Community Friend of the Community Miguel Bravo Outstanding Woman of the Year Jolyana Begay Business Of The Year College Student of the Year Jason Francisco High School Student of the Year Taylor Susan White Mountain Apache/Walker River Paiute 2008 Awardees Kent C. Ware Sr Lifetime Achievement Award Dennis Numkena, Hopi Artist and Architect Phyllis J. Bigpond Lifetime Achievement Award Bev Warne, Lakota ASU School of Nursing Outstanding Man of the Year Loren Tapahe, Publisher, Journalist and Business Owner Outstanding Woman of the Year Deb Krol, Jolon Salinan Communications Manager Herd Museum/Journalist High School Student of the Year Brandon Clark () Westwood High School (photo unavailable) High School Student of the Year Sam Burris (Hopi) South Mountain High School
2007 Awardees (25 th Anniversary Celebration) Kent C. Ware Sr Lifetime Achievement Award Cecilia and Joedd Miller Frybread House Outstanding Outstanding Man of Woman the Year of the Year Freddie Patty Johnson, Dimitriou, Language Business Teacher Owner Phoenix Indian Center, Inc. Outstanding Woman of the Year Patti Hibbeler, Salish and Kootenai CEO, Phoenix Indian Center, Inc. Outstanding Man of the Year Freddie Johnson, Language Teacher Phoenix Indian Center, Inc. Outstanding Man of the Year Marc Harrison Former CEO, Native Health Outstanding Service to the American Indian Community Dr. George BlueSpruce Society of American Indian Dentist; F Founder and Former President Outstanding Service to the American Indian Community Rev Larry Norris President, Cook School for Christian Leadership Youth names and photos unavailable Do you see someone missing from our list or have you, yourself received an award? Please email us at leadershipawards@phxindcenter.org and let us know the person s name, award category and year. Thank you for helping us update our records!