UAF AISES CHAPTER EARNS NATIONAL AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 1996

Fairbanks, Alaska - The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) of the University of Alaska Fairbanks earned the 1996 Stelvio J. Zanin Distinguished Chapter Award at the 18th Annual AISES National Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 14-17. As part of the Chapter of the Year award, UAF received $1,000 and a printer from Hewlett Packard.

AISES was established in 1977 as a nationwide non-profit organization to increase the number of Alaska Native/American Indian college students graduating with degrees in engineering, math, natural sciences, medicine, computer science, and education with an emphasis on math or science. The underlying goal is to stress the importance of both education and culture for all Native Americans, guided by a council of elders.

This marks the second time in three years that the UAF AISES chapter has received this nationally competitive award. UAF received the 1994 Distinguished Chapter Award and received runner-up honors in 1995.

In addition, two members received individual recognition at this year's national conference: Shay Huntington McEwen, a mechanical engineering senior from Galena, and Shannon Curtis, a sophomore in biology from Kotzebue, received A.T. Anderson Scholarships. UAF chapter president Mark Blair, an anthropology graduate student from Kotzebue and Detroit, was re-elected Alternate Representative for AISES Region I, representing Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Western Canada.

Blair and McEwan attended the conference along with: Sasha Atuk, a mechanical engineering junior from Nome/Fairbanks; John Henry, an electrical engineering senior from Stebbins; Jason Huffman, a biochemistry junior from Huslia; Kim Ivie, an education senior from Chevak and Fairbanks; Carleen Jack, a wildlife biology/fisheries freshman from Stebbins; Patience Merculief, an international business/Japanese studies senior from St. Paul Island; Mike Orr, a resource economics senior from Tununak; and Stefan Rearden, a petroleum engineering junior from Bethel.

Several contributors made it possible for these students to attend the 1996 national AISES conference:

Ray & Carol Barnhardt Lisa Buttrey-Thomas

Gary Gislason Lorena Hegdal

Sue McHenry Dorothy Pender

John & Terry Reichardt Jane Weber

John & Fran Zarling AK DOT Technology Transfer

Doyon Foundation Piquniq Management Corporation

Koniag Inc. UAF Institute of Marine Science

IBM Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association

UAF's AISES chapter meets every other Thursday during the school year, hosting several activities and speakers from various fields. In March 1997 the chapter will host the Region I conference, which will include several presenters, a career fair and sessions for high school students.

CONTACT: Electrical Engineering Assistant Professor Dorothy Pender, (907) 474-6405, or Sue McHenry, Rural Student Services, (907) 474-5518.

AISES/JCS/12-19-96/97-041