RAHI reunion to coincide with AFN

Submitted by Denise Wartes
Phone: (907) 474-6886
10/06/05

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Rural Alaska Honors Institute, in conjunction with the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention later this month, will host a reunion for more than two decades of RAHI participants. Alumni, families and friends are invited to attend the event on Oct. 20, 2005 from 4-7 p.m. in the Gathering Room at the Brooks Building on the UAF main campus.

The RAHI program was founded in 1982, at the request of the AFN, to help rural Alaska students make the transition from high school to college. The six-week summer program brings at least 40 high school students to UAF each year. Students live in campus residence halls and learn about college life while working to build their academic skills through enrollment in university-level courses. They leave with up to 12 college credits, which count toward degree requirements later in their academic careers.

"We attempt to build a supportive community in which students participate in a rich academic setting, build a university transcript and develop a long-term supportive network with peers, staff and instructors," said Denise Wartes, program coordinator.

To date, more than 275 RAHI alumni have gone on to achieve associate, baccalaureate or graduate degrees and many have become a part of Alaska’s professional work force. Wartes expects a strong alumni presence among the thousands of delegates attending the AFN convention Oct. 17 - 22 in Fairbanks.

"We deliberately scheduled this event to coincide with AFN," said Wartes, "So many of our alumni will be in town for the convention; it’s the perfect opportunity for us to host a statewide reunion."

As the program heads into its 24th year, Wartes hopes alumni will attend and share nearly a quarter century of RAHI memories.

CONTACT: RAHI Program Coordinator Denise Wartes at (907) 474-6886 or by e-mail at fnmdw@uaf.edu or Program Assistant Carol Hollingsworth at (907) 474-7181 or by e-mail at fnch@uaf.edu .