Rural Alaska Honors Institute to host graduation ceremony
July 11, 2011
907-474-7902
7/11/11
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Rural Alaska Honors Institute will honor RAHI students at a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, July 13, at 1 p.m. in the Schaible Auditorium with a public reception to follow at 2:30 p.m. outside the Brooks Building.
The 59 students participating in this year’s program come from 41 communities across Alaska. They spent six weeks living in UAF residence halls, building their academic skills and learning firsthand about college life. They earned up to 10 college credits.
Organized in 1983 at the request of the Alaska Federation of Natives, RAHI aims to help increase college success for rural and Alaska Native students. Hundreds of RAHI graduates have gone on to earn graduate, baccalaureate and associate degrees. Many have joined Alaska's professional workforce and many more are pursuing postsecondary education.
This year’s graduation keynote speaker, Randall Yates, is a 1998 and 1999 RAHI alumnus from Ketchikan. He is currently an attorney, having earned his bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and law degree from the University of California Berkley.
RAHI sponsors include several UAF departments, New York Life, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Wells Fargo, Rasmuson Foundation, the Alaska INBRE program, the Department of Education’s Future Educators of Alaska, the National Science Foundation-funded Alaska EPSCoR program, the National Institutes of Health-funded Alaska BioPrep program and The Boeing Corporation.
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Denise Wartes, RAHI director, at 907-474-6886 or 800-478-6886 or via email at rahi@alaska.edu.
RAHI graduates
Jordan Andrews, Mt. Village
Maggie Beans, St. Mary’s
Savannah Beckstrom, Yakutat
Isabella Booth, Metlakatla
IanJon Brower, Barrow
Sierra Chandler, Ketchikan
Christopher Clement, Sitka
Bianca David, Barrow
Deirdre Dayton, Fairbanks
Diloola Erickson, Galena
Lori Evan, Goodnews Bay
Michael Fernandez, Unalaska
Abigayle Fisher, Kaktovik
Kristen Foster, Noatak
Andrea Gump, Hooper Bay
Carlton Hautala, Kwenthluk
Kendrick Hautala, Kwenthluk
Sidney Huhndorf, Galena
Kathrin Huntington, Galena
Bess Jacobson, Kodiak
Stephanie Joekay, Oscarville
Jennifer Jones, Chignik Bay
Lawson Kalistook, Bethel
Jalene Kanayurak, Barrow
Jorden Lisac, Dillingham
Damien Lockuk, Togiak
Frederica Matumeak, Barrow
Hannah Meyer, Tenakee Springs
Chelsea Mills, Kake
Marissa Mills, Palmer
Hailley Myers, Yakutat
Drayton Newman, King Cove
Francis Nicholai, Napaskiak
Kimberly Nicholai, Napaskiak
Agnes Nichols, Cordova
Ana Otton, Koyuk
Euliana Polushkin, Homer
Guy Prasartkaew, Dillingham
Megan Russell, Sand Point
Ravenlin Sanford, Tok
Kimberlyn Sheldon, Noorvik
Emma Simple, Venetie
Michelle Slwooko, Gambell
Mary Ray Smith, Hooper Bay
Darien Southall, Unalakleet
Salina Tom, Newtok
Vincent Tomalonis, White Mountain
Ruby Walden, Tok
Davida Walker, Holy Cross
Edwin Waskey, Mt. Village
Daphne Williams, Nulato
RAHI II
Marina Anderson, Craig
Richard Bekeris, Sitka
Britney Caspersen, Metlakatla
Robert Doerning, Cold Bay
Tiana Elkins, Barrow
Courtney-Jay Knowles, Valdez
Brandon Kowalski, Fairbanks
Melissa Streitmatter, Unalaska
NW/7-11-2011/005-12