BISMARCK, ND – Evanna Flores (Mvskoke) is a student at the College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN) and the newly crowned 2026 Ms. AIHEC (American Indian Higher Education Consortium), which was held in Bismarck, North Dakota, on March 16. The contest took place during the 2026 AIHEC Student Conference, an annual event for Tribal college students, faculty, and staff that hosts competitions in academic, cultural, and artistic disciplines.
Flores spoke to Mvskoke Media about her experience, her plans for her platform, and her educational journey.
Flores is a college graduate, but returned to school at CMN to take Mvskoke language classes. The return motivated her to run for Ms. AIHEC- during the competition, her introduction was in the Mvskoke language, and she spoke about her traditions and her tribe.
“From my experience, it was very meaningful and eye-opening to just even have the opportunity to run because we’re talking about all tribal colleges in the country,” Flores said.
What she enjoyed most about the competition was meeting people at the conference and hearing their stories from their perspective. While running for Ms. AIHEC, she also got to know the fellow contestants.
Flores’ experience was positive- everyone was very encouraging. She explained that if someone didn’t win, they were happy for the winner.
During the announcement of the crown, she misheard the speaker and thought Ms. had been announced; however, it was for Mr. AIHEC. So Flores was clapping and started texting her friend to say she didn’t win, but was happy either way to have this experience. That is when the announcer called her name for Ms. AIHEC.
“My mouth was wide open, and I looked at Dr. Colton Wood, who is an instructor here at the college, and he was shocked too. I just ran up there in excitement, and the former Ms. AIHEC gave me a hug on stage, and she crowned me. It was such a joyful moment and something I’ll always hold dear to me. I feel like it’s opened so many doors already and opportunities,” Flores said.
Her experience has also made her consider running for Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
As Flores’s duties and role as Ms. AIHEC, according to her understanding right now, are to promote higher education within the Muscogee Reservation and other reservations, and to take opportunities to speak to other tribal colleges. She wants to be able to tell them how important it is to put your education first. “So in this role I’ve been able to connect with others like in tribal colleges and share my story and focus on issues that matter within education and mental health,” Flores said.
“I have already planned to work with the JOM program all across Oklahoma and reach out to other schools in the country, promoting higher education within native communities and schools, also talk about mental health awareness. Because people have always struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, and so sometimes they don’t feel the need or that they can go further or drop out of school.”
Flores hopes to learn during her time as Ms. AIHEC pride within her Nation, grow her professionalism in speaking to people, build more connections, get to know citizens, and be able to speak on stage. After her role as Ms. AIHEC, she would still like to continue representing and advocating for people in higher education, or to help in any way with mental health.
Flores finished her Associates in Science in Allied Health Science at the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. In July, she plans to start at the Green Country Technology Center for Practical Nursing (LPN), then bridge at OSU-IT for Nursing. Flores said that she is currently in patient registration at the Medical Center in Okmulgee.
