Largest Rural Alaska Honors Institute class graduates July 14

July 13, 2016

After six weeks of challenging academics, community service and hands-on learning, 68 rural and Alaska Native high school students will graduate from the Rural Alaska Honors Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday, July 14.

The students will be honored during a graduation ceremony at 1 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium on the UAF campus.

Former RAHI Director Jim Kowalsky was selected as the graduation’s keynote speaker.

“This year’s graduating class is the largest ever for the Rural Alaska Honors Institute,” said Evon Peter, UAF vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education. “While at the Troth Yeddha’ campus, these students learn how to successfully transition from their village or rural community to become successful university students. These students return to their communities ready to grow into leadership positions in their communities and Alaska.”

Troth Yeddha' is the local Athabascan name for the ridge on which UAF sits.

The 68 students are from 45 rural communities and Alaska Native villages. Three students have parents who attended RAHI. Twelve students have a sibling who attended, including one student whose three siblings also attended RAHI.

“For many of our students, participating in the Rural Alaska Honors Institute is a life-changing experience," said Denise Wartes, program manager. “They live like university students, form friendships, network with their peers and make memories that will last a lifetime."

Since its inception in 1983 at the request of the Alaska Federation of Natives, RAHI has prepared more than 1,600 rural and Alaska Native high school students to adjust academically and socially to college life. During the six weeks of living in UAF's on-campus housing, students earn as many as 11 college credits. In addition to required courses in English, library science, homeland security team building, and study skills for transitioning to college, traditional RAHI students choose from electives in process technology, business, chemistry and math. Three times per week, students choose from karate, yoga or Alaska Native dance classes. This year, students met with Alaska's U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen.

Eleven RAHI students were part of a research option funded by the National Science Foundation. With direction from a mentor, eight students studied ancient DNA from salmon bones from an archeological dig, and three students studied walrus bones and whiskers. The students will present their research findings in a paper and poster.

Rural Alaska Native students who attend RAHI are twice as likely to successfully earn a bachelor’s degree (19 percent vs. 10 percent), according to an independent study by the American Institutes for Research. The research also measured students’ University of Alaska grade-point averages and discovered that RAHI students achieve “superior academic performance” while attending the University of Alaska.

UAF photo by Leona Long. Rural Alaska Honors Institute students gather before the Midnight Sun Run on June 18 in Fairbanks with U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, center. Sullivan answered questions from the group before the run.

RAHI is made possible by financial support from the UAF College of Rural and Community Development and sponsors like Wells Fargo, New York Life, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Arctic Slope Community Foundation, Sitnasuak Native Corp., ConocoPhillips, Shell, Future Educators of Alaska, First National Bank of Alaska, NANA Management Services, Ravn Alaska, Boeing, Crowley, and Kuukpik Corp. Students attend at no cost and have their travel expenses paid.

For more information, visit www.uaf.edu/rahi.