FORTY-TWO STUDENTS HEAD FOR ACADEMIC BOOT CAMP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2000
Fairbanks, Alaska - Forty-two high school students will get a head start on college next week as participants in the 18th annual Rural Alaska Honors Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The well-known six-week "academic boot camp" begins May 27 and features a mix of eight to nine credits of college courses with a supportive residency environment designed to make students feel comfortable with living and working on a college campus.
The program, sponsored by UAF’s Alaska Native Studies department, is aimed at improving access to postsecondary education and increasing the likelihood of college success, according to RAHI program director Jim Kowalsky.
RAHI features strong writing and study skills components, which complement electives in business, mathematics, chemistry, and computer science. The computer science elective is a new addition to the program this year, supported by a grant from IBM, who has also loaned 14 desktop computers for students to use in the RAHI residence hall.
The RAHI curriculum also features a practical applications computer course, a swimming class, and a very popular course in Alaska Native dance.
"All courses are offered for full university credit, enabling high school students to begin an early university transcript to meet some of the requirements for an academic degree," Kowalsky said.
RAHI began in 1983 at the request of the Alaska Federation of Natives to improve the chances for college success for rural Alaska Native students, but participants also include urban and non-Native students. This summer, students will converge on the UAF campus from communities at the farthest corners of the state— from Metlakatla and Kaktovik to Barrow, Arctic Village to Akutan— and many villages in between.
According to Kowalsky, RAHI strives to reinforce the diverse Alaska Native cultures represented by students in the program and works to create a strong community of learners who support each other.
"That bonding and mutual peer support is really at the heart of our program," Kowalsky said. More than 750 students have completed what Kowalsky calls a "college dress rehearsal."
Program alumni have enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs, including medical school. Other graduates rank in the professional workforce, including teachers, engineers, men and women in business, accountants, nurses, social workers and biologists. Some are members of the military or employed in education-related fields and other professions.
The program finale is a cap and gown graduation open to the public on Friday, July 7th at 1 p.m. in UAF’s Natural Science Facility. This year’s keynote speaker will be Alaska State Representative Albert Kookesh of Angoon.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: A detailed list of this year’s RAHI participants is attached.
CONTACT: RAHI Program Director Jim Kowalsky at (907) 474-6886 or via email at fyrahi@uaf.edu. Details are available at the program's web site: www.uaf.edu/rahi
JCS/5-16-00/00-078
RAHI 2000 Tentative Roster
1. Ramona J. Akelkok Bettles senior
2. Irving Ashenfelter White Mountain junior
3. Mary E. Bryant Haines junior
4. A. Lee Bryant Haines junior
5. Phillip Carscallen Dillingham junior
6. Allen E. Childs Skwentna senior
7. Larissa E. Christensen Port Heiden junior
8. Kimberly Curtis Toksook Bay junior
9. Ben Doleshal Barrow senior
10. Crystal A. Flores Bethel senior
11. Crystal A. Frank Arctic Village senior
12. Theo Golden Stony River senior
13. Trisha Gray White Mountain junior
14. Rochelle Graybeal Northway junior
15. Priscella Joe Tetlin junior
16. Annie Kokeok Shishmaref senior
17. Walter W. Kookesh Angoon senior
18. Vanessa M. Lincoln Toksook Bay senior
19. Mack Moore Manokotak junior
20. Samantha Nicholai Kongiganak junior
21. John G. O’Neil Hydaburg junior
22. April D. Pelkey Akutan junior
23. Ginger Perry Shaktoolik junior
24. Charlene Pilot Galena junior
25. Margaret Pletnikoff Dillingham senior
26. Alicia M. Rexford Kaktovik junior
27. Sherman E. Richard Wales junior
28. Dana Salmon Chalkyitsik junior
29. Brett A. Smith Eagle River junior
30. Kristen R. Smith Kotzebue junior
31. Fannie M. Soplu Kaktovik junior
32. Deanna Strunk Quinhagak junior
33. Joseph Thomas Fort Yukon senior
34. Olianne Tinker Kasigluk junior
35. Rocky Tooyak Eagle River/Point Hope junior
36. Angela K. Totemoff Tatitlek senior
37. Desiree A. Ulroan Chevak junior
38. Robert W. Vanderpool Red Devil junior
39. Alicia R. Vent Huslia senior
40. Karah Vial Togiak junior
41. Brenda A. White Metlakatla junior
42. Melanie M. Wholecheese Allakakeet junior