When she came to the United States as an exchange student at the age of 16, Dajana (pronounced Diana) Zlaticanin, originally from Montenegro, had major culture shock.
A few years later this GateWay Community College student is still in shock, but for something she achieved. She was selected from hundreds of applications to receive a Fiesta Bowl scholarship and be chosen to sit on the Fiesta Bowl Court.
“I saw one of the brochures that the Financial Aid Department received from the Fiesta Bowl and was encouraged to apply by the faculty and staff at GateWay,” said Zlaticanin. “They helped me through the process. The whole time, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be selected, especially as an international student.”
As part of the court, Zlaticanin will attend many local community events and make appearances in the Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation on Dec. 29 and at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale on Jan. 3.
The competition was stiff, but Zlaticanin, who is younger than most of her counterparts, is very involved. She is the president of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at GateWay, holds appointments on student clubs, such as the World Explorers Club, is a member of Student Government, is a PEER Mentor for new students and works part-time in the Enrollment Services Center at GateWay.
Those selected for the court will each receive a $5,000 scholarship, $7,500 if you are selected as the Fiesta Bowl Queen, which was announced on Oct. 19.
“I plan to use the scholarship toward next semester’s tuition, which will help my family a lot,” said Zlaticanin. “I’m so pumped.”
Zlaticanin was the only community college student selected to be on the court. “All the other girls are from the university and are seniors,” she said.
Zlaticanin is majoring in political science and plans to transfer to ASU after graduating in May 2013 from GateWay with an Associate Degree.