When Ishta Wabaunsee heard her name called as the new Miss AIHEC, she was stunned. Representing Haskell Indian Nations University on a national stage, she had just earned one of the highest honors in tribal college student leadership. What began as encouragement from a family friend and mentor quickly grew into a platform that now allows her to advocate for Native students across the country.
A junior from Topeka, Kansas, Wabaunsee is pursuing a degree in Indigenous and American Indian Studies at Haskell. She previously earned her Associate of Science in Health, Sports, and Exercise Science, graduating Magna Cum Laude this past May. A graduate of Seaman High School, she has long balanced academics with leadership and community service. On campus, she serves as treasurer for the Haskell Handgame Club and is an active member of AIHEC student leadership.
Her path to Miss AIHEC is built on years of experience. Wabaunsee is a three-time Miss Kansas for National American Miss and a two-time grantee of the Topeka Youth Commission’s “Stay 785” initiative. Those earlier achievements, she says, gave her the confidence and skills to step onto the AIHEC stage.
Now crowned Miss AIHEC, she represents tribal colleges and universities nationwide on the AIHEC Student Congress Advisory Board, where she collaborates with regional representatives and advocates for student needs. “They take a lot of my opinions into account,” Wabaunsee said. “It’s national level, so it includes representatives from all over the United States.”
Her platform as Miss AIHEC focuses on heart health and physical activity. Over the summer, she dedicated time to planning events and seeking sponsorships to encourage students and community members to stay active. “I want to be able to encourage people of all ages and abilities to find ways to be physically active,” she said. “That’s something I’ve studied here at Haskell, and I want to bring it not just to students, but also to the broader community.”
Support from family and mentors has been vital to her journey. She credited Robin Shield, one of her sponsors, as her most prominent advocate. “She actually convinced me to run for the title,” she shared. “She helped me prepare for interviews, set up mock interviews, and gave me so much support.” She also emphasized the role her mother and three sisters played in preparing her for the pageant, especially the interview process.
Since earning the crown, Wabaunsee has represented Haskell at national conferences, including the National Unity Conference and the AIHEC Student Advisory gathering in Tucson, Arizona. “It was really fun to connect with the regional representatives and talk about what we’re planning for this year,” she said.
Balancing tradition with modern expectations has been an essential part of her role. “For me, it’s about learning how to represent my people from a title,” she explained. “It’s been a big learning experience to blend mainstream pageantry with Indigenous protocols.”
She hopes her time as Miss AIHEC will set a foundation for future titleholders. “I want to create guidelines or a list of duties for future queens, because that’s something I didn’t receive,” Wabaunsee said. “I want to leave behind something that helps future representatives succeed.”
Looking ahead, she plans to continue her studies at Haskell and eventually pursue a graduate degree or attend law school. “I want to work for my people,” she said. “Whether that’s through a national nonprofit, going back to work for my tribe, or representing tribal colleges in Washington, D.C., I want to advocate for Indigenous peoples.”
For Wabaunsee, the title is more than a crown — it’s about honoring her family’s history and carrying their resilience forward. “I’m a third-generation Haskell student,” she reflected. “My great-grandma was also a school queen at her boarding school. It means a lot to serve Haskell on a national level, to represent my family and the sacrifices they made.”
