Members of NTUs AIBL chapter, from left: Romulus Cordova, Kaitland Freeland, Christopher Beyal, Devin Chee, Tilda A. Harrison-Woody, Larris Enrico, and Frederika Thomas

The American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL) chapter at Navajo Technical University (NTU) has won first place in the chapter of the year, tribal college category. The announcement was made at the Aqua Caliente Resort Rancho Mirage in California at the National American Indigenous Business Leadership Conference.

The competition was divided into three divisions: high school, tribal college, and university. Each chapter from three respective divisions presented an introduction followed by overviews of their past and present activities, leadership of movements, integration of American Indigenous culture, community service projects, and fundraising efforts. Overall presentation skills were also assessed. AIBL chapters conducted a presentation in video format where they had to include the chapter name, current chapter officers, the name and title of each member, and their current chapter advisor, lasting a total of 10 minutes. Students who attended these events could listen and learn from today’s business leaders who provided tips and helped them network in workshops that helped create more skills.

The NTU AIBL chapter won $1,000 to add to their pot. NTU AIBL chapter members who attended the event were Frederika Thomas, chapter president; Romulus Cordova, vice president; Christopher Beyal, secretary; Devin T. Chee, treasurer; Larris Enrico, coordinator; and Kaitlin Freeland, student senate representative.

Tilda Woody, an advisor and professor of accounting at NTU, is honored and proud of NTU’s students. “My perspective as an educator and chapter advisor is to see the potential in students, [which] they do not see in themselves, helping them believe that their learned skills and knowledge with NTU and AIBL will build them to be successful in what they aspire to become,” says Woody. “It is an addiction and my passion to see our NTU students achieve their goals. I see them laying a foundation for being an outstanding leader in their business endeavors. It’s a privilege to be a part of their journey.”