OKMULGEE – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation held the 26th annual Challenge Bowl throughout the month of February. The challenge is managed by the MCN Johnson O’Malley Program and hosted by the College of the Muscogee Nation. The challenge helps youth learn about Mvskoke culture, history, government, and language while using traditional values. Each division is split into 3 days: High School, Middle School, and Elementary School.
MCN Challenge bowl Volunteer Coordinator/MCN Department of Housing Systems Operation, Melinda Deeringwater (Mvskoke), explained how this challenge bowl was established in 2000.
”The common goal is to develop tribal pride within our youth. They learn about our culture, government, and language,” Deeringwater said. “It brings the schools together as well as the community, MCN employees, and even our citizens. Within the last five years or more, we’ve even had our elderly citizens volunteer, so that was a good thing. It gets them out there, and they enjoy the kids too.”
According to Deeringwater, this year’s competition participation was strong, and the elementary division was the largest, with 40 teams.
Deeringwater enjoys the whole competition; she has been a volunteer for 24 years now. Deeringwater enjoys coordinating and organizing the competition, from forming teams to assigning rooms.
“I enjoy seeing all the kids, their participation, and their eagerness to compete. I’ve seen most of them, probably from the elementary age all the way through the high school years. So it’s just good to reconnect and see those kids,” Deeringwater said.
She has noticed that all the students are eager to compete and has observed them studying in the hallways.
For these challenge bowls, MCN employees and community members prepare each year for the competition. They hold monthly core meeting sessions for volunteers.
“It’s a lot of work, but seeing the faces of those kids, parents, and the sponsors doing that competition. Then the final award ceremony is very worthwhile,” Deeringwater said.
This year, there were many volunteers, and Deeringwater had to create more positions, such as golf cart drivers, to help some sponsors or volunteers get around CMN’s campus quickly.
Deeringwater appreciates CMN and CMN’s President, Dr. Monte Randall, for allowing them to use their campus.
She wanted to give a shout-out to the JOM core committee and the employees for their effort in putting this challenge bowl together. Deeringwater also wanted to recognize their volunteers for always stepping up to help in any way.
Results:
High School-
1st place: Glenpool Underclassmen
2nd place: Beggs Lvste
3rd place: Glenpool Seniors
Wilbur Gouge Honors Team: Beggs Lvste
Middle School-
1st place: Glenpool Vtokyehatte
2nd place: Glenpool Tenetke
3rd place: Glenpool Hotvle-Rakko
Elementary School-
1st place: Glenpool Tvstvnkvlke
2nd place: Glenpool Kaccvs
3rd place: Glenpool Tenetke
Wilbur Gouge Honors Team: Beggs Team Hvtke
