RAHI to honor students at 2006 graduation ceremony

Submitted by Denise Wartes
Phone: (907) 474-6886
07/07/06

Fairbanks, Alaska--The University of Alaska Fairbanks Rural Alaska Honors Institute will honor the accomplishments of 45 RAHI students at a graduation ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 12 in Schaible Auditorium. A public reception will follow in the Brooks Building Gathering Room.

Dr. Alberta Laktonen, a 1992 RAHI alumna, will be the keynote speaker. Laktonen earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Harvard and a medical degree from the University of Washington. She recently began work at the Alaska Native Medical Center.

The RAHI program is aimed at rural and Alaska Native students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school with at least a 3.0 grade point average. Proposed in 1982 by the Alaska Federation of Natives and the University of Alaska, RAHI uses a challenging university curriculum and a residential program to acquaint students with college life and expectations. More than 300 students, after participating in RAHI, have gone on to earn associate, baccalaureate or graduate degrees. Many RAHI alumni have joined Alaska’s professional workforce and many more are in the postsecondary pipeline.

"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.

The RAHI curriculum includes university courses funded in part by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and UAF’s Alaska Natives Into Psychology program. Courses in writing at the college level make up the centerpiece of the curriculum, along with a choice of biochemistry, geoscience, math, rural development or psychology. Each student earns between seven and 10 credits at UAF, giving them a head start on college. Instruction in computers, Alaska Native dance, swimming and study skills round out the program. RAHI is sponsored by UAF’s College of Rural and Community Development.

Note to editors: Student list attached.

Contact: Denise Wartes or Carol Hollingsworth at (907) 474-6886, toll free at 1-800-478-6886, e-mail fyrahi@uaf.edu or visit the RAHI website at www.uaf.edu/rahi.

RAHI 2006 student list

Corey Ahnangnatoguk, Point Hope
Virginia Anderson, Port Heiden
Gayle Bartman, Manokotak
Clothilda Beans, Mountain Village
Kimberly Beans, Mountain Village
Leann Bifelt, Huslia
Dexter Bordeaux, Atqasuk
Margaret Edwards, Barrow
Anna Evan , Marshall
Casey Ferguson, Chevak
Janis Frank, Minto
Darcy Hammond, Chicken
Daisy Harpak, Mountain Village
Staci Homelvig, Nome
Rebecca Huntington, Galena
Renae Ivanoff, Unalakleet
Jordan Jeffery, Barrow
Natalia Kitsick, Kotlik
Ashley Kokrine, North Pole
Aaron Kowalski, Kotzebue
Monika Kunat, Gustavus
Daniel Larkin, Nunapitchuk
Madeline Lewis, Chefornak
Nolan Lind, Dillingham
Chelsie Marunde, Northway
Dorcas Moto, Deering
Kyle Nashookpuk, Point Hope
Sarah Niksik, Stebbins
Florence Nukusuk, Hooper Bay
Lilly Odinzoff, Kotlik
Derek Oktollik, Point Hope
Natalie Pfeifer, Ketchikan
Steven Piazza, Dillingham
Carl Ravenscroft, North Pole
Susan Reddaway, Nome
Keane Richards, Kandik River
Jenna Schmidt, Nome
Lillian Sensmeier, Yakutat
Leann Sommer, Galena
Isaac Thompson, Nome
Allen Ulroan, Chevak
Brianne Wassmann, Nome
Jenna Weisz, Tok
Rebecca Wilson, Tenakee Springs
Katlyn Zuray, Tanana