Navajo Female Participation in high school volleyball:

1. Navajo Female Participation in high school volleyball: Its Impact/Correlation on Success in Higher Education Treva C. Gilmore Arizona State University

2. Data in Previous Study Shows… • Joseph Pluchinota (1996) said that “less than 0.8 percent of all college students are Native American.” • George Russell (1994) in American Indian Digest reported : • 52% of Native Americans graduate from high school • 17% attend college • 4% graduate from college • 2% attend graduate school

3. U.S. Census (2000) reported… • In a selected population group (135,908) with Navajos alone, 9,379 Navajos earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher. • 6.9% of the selected population group (25+yrs) • ≈14.25% of the female population • ≈ 13.3% of the male population

4. National center for education statistics (2010)

5. Dissertation topic • The purpose of this research is to identify, describe, and analyze Navajo female participation in high school volleyball and the impact/correlation it has on the success in higher education.

6. Previous Studies… • Traci Nemechek’s (1997) “Navajo Hoops & Higher learning: A Study of Female High School Basketball Players and their Post-secondary Academic Success.” • Two hypotheses: • Female Navajo participation in high school basketball does contribute to future post-secondary academic success • Basketball players’ support system played a significant role in the student-athletes’ future academic or athletic success

7. Implications for research • Gain an in-depth understanding of the impact athletics, Diné culture, coaching/mentoring of student-athletes, and the community has on the lives of Navajo female student-athletes in their post-secondary success. • Comparison with Nemechek findings • Personal ties to the program and own marked success attributed to participation in volleyball • Statistics provided contrasts the situation at MVHS & with learning in post-secondary education • Navajo female participation is not a common area of study in higher academia

8. Why would other educators want to know about it? • Other educators vested in the success of American Indians in higher education would appreciate the impact athletics has in the lives of young female student-athletes. • Knowledge gained is invaluable, especially with the focus on Navajo female student-athletes. • Identifies ways to recruit and maintain retention in high school & higher education institutions. • The data compiled will be useful in identifying the commonalities/trends amongst successful Navajo female student-athletes in higher education.

9. What do you want to know about it? • Are results parallel to findings in Nemechek study? • How does female participation in basketball and volleyball compare? • Does the solidity of the program have similar or different results?

10. Methodology • Qualitative research, relying on interviews with former student-athletes • To maintain accuracy of interviews, the use of voice recording will be utilized • Concentrate on athletes who participated in high school volleyball from 2000-2010 school years • Select female student-athletes based on availability

11. Interview questions • Define ‘leader’? • How did you view yourself in high school…were you a leader? Why or why not? • Now that you’re out of high school and working/going to college, what positive experiences at MVHS prepared you for college success? And what recommendations would you make to better prepare ALL students for college success? • What is your general observation of female athletes’ college enrollment and post-secondary academic success? How does that compare to male athletes? • What skills do sports teach student-athletes that prepare them for college enrollment, post-secondary academic success, and life? • What advice would you give/have for American Indian youth, especially females, in their quest to attend, persevere, and succeed academically in college? • What skills are necessary for college success? • What do you attribute these skills to (i.e. home, school, sports, culture, teachers, coaches, family, friends)? • Explain the importance or non-importance of Navajo tradition and culture in your life? • What people were most influential in your life (i.e. childhood, high school, college)? • What impact has athletics had on your life? • How important are games/sports/physical fitness to Navajo people? Specifically women? • How much of an impact did former MVHS athletic scholarship winners have on your desire to attend college (+/-)?

12. Questions?