RAHI honors 60 at annual graduation ceremony

July 10, 2012

UAF photo by Todd Paris. Rachel Gulanes from Dutch Harbor prepares to enter Schaible Auditorium moments before the graduation ceremony of the annual Rural Alaska Honors Institute on the UAF campus.

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
7/10/12

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Rural Alaska Honors Institute honored RAHI students at a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, July 11, at 1 p.m. in the Schaible Auditorium. A public reception followed outside the Brooks Building.

The 60 graduates come from 31 Alaska communities. Among them are seven second-generation RAHI graduates: One or both of their parents also went through the program.

The graduates spent six weeks living in UAF residence halls, building their academic skills and learning firsthand about college life. They earned up to 10 college credits.

Organized in 1983 at the request of the Alaska Federation of Natives, RAHI aims to help increase college success for rural and Alaska Native students. Hundreds of RAHI graduates have gone on to earn graduate, baccalaureate and associate degrees. Many have joined Alaska's professional workforce and many more are pursuing postsecondary education.

UAF photo by Todd ParisMembers of the 2012 graduating class of UAF's Rural Alaska Honors Institute celebrate on the steps of the Rasmuson Library moments after their commencement ceremony July 11.

This year’s graduation keynote speaker, Sarah “Sherry” Obed, is a 1996 RAHI alumna from Minto and Fairbanks. She is government relations director at Doyon Limited. She earned a bachelor’s degree in American Indian studies from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan.

RAHI sponsors include several UAF departments, New York Life, Wells Fargo, the National Institutes of Health-funded Alaska BioPrep and INBRE programs, the Department of Education’s Future Educators of Alaska, the National Science Foundation-funded Alaska EPSCoR program and The Boeing Corporation.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Denise Wartes, RAHI director, at 907-474-6886 or 800-478-6886 or rahi@alaska.edu.

RAHI Class of 2012
Students marked with an asterisk are second-generation graduates.

Natalia Ballard, Hooper Bay, Hooper Bay High School
Darlon Barr, Deering, Deering High School
Christopher Beans, Pilot Station, Pilot Station High School
Elena Beans, Mountain Village, Mountain Village High School
Paige Bowen, Barrow, Barrow High School
Abigail Brooks, Fairbanks, Hutchison High School
Thomas Brower, Barrow, Barrow High School
Thomas Brown, Kipnuk, Kipnuk High School
Zachariah Chaliak, Nunapitchuk, GILA High School
Kenna Contreras, Nome, Nome High School
Colin Corsetti, Unalakleet, Unalakleet High School
Krissa Davis, Petersburg, Petersburg High School
Peter Demientieff, Anchorage, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
*Phylicia Don, Chugiak, Chugiak High School
Rey Estrada, Kodiak, Kodiak High School
Sheila Evan, Goodnews Bay, Goodnews Bay High School
*Shelby Fisher-Salmon, Beaver, Beaver High School
Kristina Gibson, Sitka, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Aubrey Gosuk, Togiak, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
*Ivik Henry, Kotzebue, Kotzebue High School
Peter Imgalrea, Chevak, Chevak High School
Shannon Isaac, Dot Lake, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Ashley Johnson, Bethel, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Amber Jones, Chevak, Chevak High School
Anastasia Kalugin, Fritz Creek, Voznesenka - Homer
Nelson Kanuk, Kipnuk, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Jennie Katchatag, Unalakleet, Unalakleet High School
Justice Kippi, Barrow, Barrow High School
Brianna Kirk, Noatak, Noatak High School
Jesse Klejka, Bethel, Bethel High School
*Justin Kokrine, Fairbanks, Effie Kokrine Charter School
Natalie Landlord, Mountain Village, Mountain Village High School
Carlene Liskey, Tuluksak, Tuluksak High School
Gary Lose, Fairbanks, Hutchison High School
Joe Martelle, Barrow, Barrow High School
Rebekah Miller, Nome, IDEA
Francis Nicholai, Napaskiak, Napaskiak High School
Isaac Peacock, Kotzebue, Kotzebue High School
Jasmine Ruckman, Unalaska, Unalaska High School
Jennifer Ruiz, Dutch Harbor, Unalaska High School
Paulianne Schaeffer, Kotzebue, Kotzebue High School
*Olivia Shields, Anchorage, West Anchorage High School
Laura Smith, Selawik, Selawik High School
* Pamela Tocktoo, Nome, Nome High School
Revie Tony, Nightmute, Nightmute High School
Claudine Tungul, Unalaska, Unalaska High School
*Aaron Ulroan, Chevak, Chevak High School
Liliane Ulukivaiola, Anchorage, East Anchorage High School
Sarah VanAmburg, Noatak, Noatak High School
Laura VanAmburg, Noatak, Noatak High School
Brittany Wilcox, Sitka, Sitka High School

RAHI Research 2012
Students will participate in an archaeological field research experience following graduation.
Ryanne Braselton, Fairbanks, Lathrop High School
Brianna Gilmore, Fairbanks, West Valley High School
Rachel Gulanes, Dutch Harbor, Unalaska High School
Elizabeth Himschoot, Dillingham, Dillingham High School
Aurora Hoefferle, Dillingham, Dillingham High School
James Howel, Anchorage, Raven Correspondence
Reanna Moses, Fairbanks, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Kyran Ruerup, Fairbanks, Effie Kokrine Charter School
Miriah Valerio, Kodiak, Kodiak High School

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