RURAL ALASKA HONORS INSTITUTE RECOGNIZES GRADS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 1996

Fairbanks, Alaska - The Rural Alaska Honors Institute will recognize the achievements of 46 students attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks summer academic enrichment program with a formal cap and gown graduation beginning at 1 p.m. July 5 in room 201 of UAF's Natural Sciences Building.

The event's featured keynote speaker will be Matthew Nicolai, president of Calista Corp., the native regional profit corporation for the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta. Nicolai, who grew up in Kwethluk and now lives in Anchorage with his family, studied economics and political science at UAF from 1972 to 1974. He finished his bachelor's degree in political economics and political science in 1976 from George Washington University.

Nicolai has worked for Calista for more than two decades, serving as a Yup'ik translator during the corporation's early years.

RAHI's overall mission is to help prepare high school juniors and seniors for college success through a curriculum of college credit courses. The institute includes a rigorous three-credit writing course and choice of a three-credit academic specialty, such as business administration, petroleum engineering, biology, mathematics or Alaska Native studies. Several other one credit courses - Native dance, swimming, college preparation, study skills, and internet computer technology - round out the curriculum.

RAHI students earning seven to 11 credits live in a campus residence hall, where they receive encouragement and individual tutorial support. By living on campus students also generally learn to be comfortable and productive within the campus setting. Recruitment is targeted to rural Alaska Native students, but others also attend.

The program is sponsored by the UAF College of Liberal Arts and is in its 14th year.

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CONTACT: UAF RAHI Director Jim Kowalsky, (907) 474-6886, or through electronic mail at fnjek@aurora.alaska.edu.

JCS/6-25-96/96-089