Friday Focus: In service to society
May 16, 2019
— by Evon Peter, vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education
As I took part in graduation ceremonies in Mamterilleq (Bethel), Siqnasuaq (Nome) and Ch'eno' (Fairbanks) the past few weeks, I was deeply moved and reinvigorated by many student stories of triumph over adversity. Some stories were verbally expressed on stage and in the moments surrounding graduation, while many more came across through tears of joy, expressions of pride and elation, and in congratulatory embraces from friends and family.
Several student speakers summarized their journey, which in some cases took decades, through raising families and overcoming trauma, to persevere in completing their degrees. In Siqnasuaq we partner with Kawerak’s adult education program to honor their GED completers. In total there were 50 graduates, representing every level of academic achievement, from GED to Ph.D.
One of the nursing graduates shared that she began at the local ceremony several years earlier as a GED completer and was inspired to pursue a nursing degree. She plans to continue her education to achieve the goal of becoming a physician assistant. At the graduate level, we hooded master’s degree students in justice and secondary education and a Ph.D. student in anthropology. It was a significant occasion for the region, as it was also the last graduation for retiring director Bob Metcalf, who has served the Northwest Campus in several capacities since 1991.
At the graduation events I noticed a theme that emerged in conversations among the graduates and their families. It was a focus on discussing the purpose of education. We often speak about education as something that will bring benefits to the individual, such as higher income and improved health over the course of a lifetime. While that is true, the conversations I heard centered more on the purpose of education being to increase an individual’s capacity to serve at the community level, to be a part of helping their community improve the quality of life for everyone. It was inspiring to hear a reflection of the values we nurture as an institution, that we are here to serve the advancement of society through research and education.
The role of our university in Alaska is critical to the future of our state, from health care and education to economic development and everything in between. And it is comforting to know that our graduates have the future of our communities and state in mind as they move into the workforce or on to further educational pursuits.
I would like to utilize this Friday’s Focus to congratulate all of our faculty and staff for your accomplishments in educating, mentoring and advising this year’s graduates to the successful completion of their degrees! I wish all of you a wonderful summer.