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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Sequoyah High School (SHS) has something to cheer about. Two of the school’s varsity cheerleaders recently earned the title of All-American cheerleader while attending National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) cheerleading camp in Dallas, Texas. In addition to the honor of being named All-American, Jessica Cornell and Angel Navarro will have the opportunity to perform at half-time of either the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, or the Honolulu Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.

"There were a lot of really great people who tried out and being chosen made me feel like all my hard work had paid off," Cornell said.

"These two have worked very hard and I am very proud of their accomplishment," said Bonnie Griffin, SHS cheerleading coach.

Members of the NCA staff nominated Cornell and Navarro to try-out for All-American. Also nominated from SHS were Roselyn Scott, Brittney Ummerteskee and Joseph Heirs.

Cornell is the 17 year-old daughter of Anthony and Michelle Cornell of Tahlequah, Okla. She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a senior at SHS.

Navarro is the 17 year-old son of Stacia Lowe of Tahlequah, Okla., and Joe Navarro of Garden City, Kansas. He is a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation and is a junior at SHS. He also earned a chance to perform as an all-star dancer at Disney Land for his outstanding performance while attending a National Dance Association (NDA) camp this summer.

"Ms. Griffin has always pushed me to be a leader since freshman year," Navarro said.

Navarro is a leader, serving as captain and co-captain on the SHS cheerleading squad since he was a freshman.

The SHS varsity cheerleading squad will compete in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) regional competition on Saturday, September 17, at Catoosa High School in Catoosa, Oklahoma.

Sequoyah High School "Home of the Indians!" P.O. Box 520, Tahlequah, OK 74465             Sequoyah High School Alumni P.O. Box 187, Park Hill, OK 74451-0187 Sequoyah High School, an Indian boarding school, originated in 1871, when the Cherokee National Council passed an act setting up an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans that came out of the Civil War. Sequoyah High School's approximate 300 enrollment represents 42 tribes and 14 different states. Students are eligible to attend if they are members of federally recognized Indian tribes or one-fourth blood descendants of such members.