I-AC's Simmons receives "Woman of Courage" award
November 5, 2013
The Alaska Federation of Natives has honored Interior-Aleutians Campus Director Teisha
Simmons with the Hannah Solomon"Woman of Courage" award at the Alaska Federations
of Natives last week. The award is given to an Alaska Native woman who demonstrates
through her life and work the strengths of Native culture and values, and exhibits
tremendous courage. Simmons is known for increasing opportunities for higher education
for rural Alaska.
“We are inspired by Teisha’s accomplishments, especially in light of the challenges
she faced,” says Maude Blair, vice president for Alaska Federation of Natives. “We
were glad we got to meet her and we look forward to seeing more great things from
her.”
At 15, Simmons survived a car accident that left her a quadriplegic and confined her
to a wheelchair. After graduating from Howard Luke School as valedictorian, she received
scholarships to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Simmons graduated with
a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical community counseling.
Prior to serving as Interior-Aleutians Campus Director, Simmons served as statewide
program manager and faculty for the Rural Human Services Program.
An advocate for promoting opportunities for higher education in rural Alaska, Simmons
is known for encouraging everyone to consider attaining a university certificate or
degree. Under her direction, I-AC has increased the number of rural students who take
UAF classes like wildland firefighting, tribal management and construction trades
technology. She frequently speaks to Alaska Native and rural Alaska students and community
groups about their opportunities for higher education and shares her story of her
first day as a UAF student.
"I remember the first time that I went up to the university after graduating from
high school,” says Simmons. “I was sure that I wasn't smart enough for college. I
told my sister that I wasn't ready and that maybe I wasn't cut out for college. I
will never forget what she said to me...'Teisha, your instructors will never ask you
to write about something or test you on something they haven't taught you or told
you to read and study. College isn't about how smart you are, it's about committing
to attend class and disciplining yourself to study and get the homework done.’ She
was so right.”