Diné College Secures Major Victories at the 2026 AIHEC Student Conference
BISMARCK, N.D., Mar. 20, 2026 — Diné College students took home top honors, including the championship title in the Handgame Tournament and multiple speech awards, during the 2026 American Indian Higher Education Consortium Student Conference held March 15 to March 18 in Bismarck, North Dakota. The event united students, faculty, and staff from tribal colleges nationwide to compete and celebrate the Tribal College Movement.
The Diné College team secured a definitive victory in the highly competitive Handgame Tournament. The students defeated several institutions, including Sitting Bull College, The College of Muscogee Nation, before overcoming Navajo Technical University and Sinte Gleska University in a memorable final match. Both sides sang with pride and placed Diné culture at the forefront of the competition. The AIHEC committee presented the winning team with a monetary reward, a trophy, and a traditional set of sticks and bones at the concluding banquet.
Three Diné College students earned top placements in the AIHEC Speech Competition after delivering exceptional presentations. Damien Jones Jr. won first place for Informative Speech, discussing educational systems rooted in cultural teachings. Terance Woody took second place in the same category. Tyrel Jones secured second place for Persuasive Speech after challenging the audience to reevaluate interpersonal relationships in the age of artificial intelligence. Dr. Nonabah Sam coached and mentored the speech team to these decisive victories.
Diné College students also demonstrated outstanding leadership and academic prowess throughout the week. Officials announced Terance Woody as the new 2026-2027 Southwest Regional Representative for the AIHEC Student Congress, and relinquished his 2025-26 Mr. AIHEC title to the next honoree. The Critical Inquiry team delivered a collaborative research presentation on the Indian blood quantum system and clan structures, while others competed fiercely in Archery, the Art Showcase, Knowledge Bowl and Traditional Plants and Herbs assessments.
These remarkable achievements highlight the deep cultural pride and academic excellence thriving within the student body. Diné College looks forward to continuing its strong presence at future AIHEC events to further advance the Tribal College Movement and empower Indigenous scholars across the nation.
