TAHLEQUAH — The Cherokee Nation has named Brooke Hudson of Claremore as Miss Cherokee 2010-11. Hudson received the title during the recent Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition held in Tahlequah. She will officially be crowned Saturday during the tribe’s State of the Nation ceremony happening on the courthouse square as part of the 58th Cherokee National Holiday.

Hudson, 19, is the daughter of Michelle Scarborough. She attends Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where she majors in mass communication and plays softball for the Lady Norse. Her own active lifestyle and continuing involvement in sports led Hudson to choose health and fitness as her platform. Hudson says with this platform she will have the opportunity to raise awareness and share the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.

Hudson enjoys demonstrating the game of stickball, basket weaving and Native American beadwork. This past June she also took part in Cherokee Nation’s 2010 Remember the Removal bike ride, a 950-mile bicycle trek that commemorated the tribe’s journey from its eastern homelands in the 1830s. Along with the Miss Cherokee title, Hudson will receive a $3,000 scholarship.

Todd Enlow, group leader of Cherokee Nation Leadership, which coordinated the event, said that as the new Miss Cherokee, Hudson will carry the goodwill message of the Cherokees and her platform to different communities and across the United States on the tribe’s journey to becoming a happy and healthy people.

“I hope that all participants will grow by participating in this experience and eventually be able to conduct a conversation about Cherokee history, culture and language with everyone they come in contact with throughout their journey,” said Enlow.

The purpose of the Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition is to identify young women with leadership abilities to represent the Cherokee Nation, its citizens and communities. Miss Cherokee serves as a goodwill ambassador and messenger to promote the government, history, language and culture of the Cherokee people. This year’s Miss Cherokee Leadership participants were judged by a panel of experts in several categories, including interviewing skills, a platform presentation and a cultural presentation, social skills, tribal knowledge and their usage of the Cherokee language.

Kinsey Shade, 22, of Tahlequah was selected as first-runner up and will receive a $2,000 scholarship. She is the daughter of Bobby and Ruth Ann Shade, and attends Northeastern State University majoring in Mass Communication.

Kassandra Peck, 19, of Stilwell was second runner-up and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Peck is the daughter of Brad and Margie Peck and also attends NSU, where she has chosen Native American Culture Studies as her major.

The Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition has its roots in the mid-1950s when Phyllis Osage was named Queen of the Cornstalk Shoot during one of the earliest Cherokee National Holidays. The title evolved into Miss Cherokee in 1962 and the duties expanded beyond the Holiday to include appearances at tribal, community and other functions. Forty-six different young women have since held the Miss Cherokee title.

“The three young ladies who participated this year showed great pride and knowledge of their Cherokee heritage during the competition,” said Nancy Scott, event coordinator. “I enjoyed working with each participant and know that they will all continue to proudly serve as ambassadors for the Cherokee Nation.”

Hudson and the other participants will be recognized on Saturday following Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith’s State of the Nation address, as the Miss Cherokee crown is passed from the current Miss Cherokee, Danielle Culp of Claremore, to Hudson. Thousands of visitors are expected to be on hand for the State of the Nation ceremony, which includes performances by the award-winning Cherokee National Youth Choir and the Principal Chief’s speech, as well as the presentation of several awards to tribal citizens and community groups. A free community meal will also be held on the courthouse square immediately following the ceremony.

For a full schedule of events and event locations for the Cherokee National Holiday, call 453-5536 or visit http://holiday.cherokee.org.