Rural Alaska Honors Institute will celebrate graduates at ceremony

 

The Rural Alaska Honors Institute will hold its 41st annual graduation July 13 from 1-2:30 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium on the University of Alaska Fairbanks Troth Yeddha’ Campus. The ceremony will stream live on Facebook.

RAHI, a competitive program offered by the UAF College of Rural and Community Development, lets rural and Alaska Native students discover what it's like to attend college.

For six weeks this summer, students lived in dorms on the Troth Yeddha' Campus in Fairbanks while taking an average of nine college credits. They learned about writing, library sciences, process technology, chemistry, math, Alaska Native studies, biology, research and education. On weekends, students explored Interior Alaska through hiking, canoeing, rafting and volunteering.

Since its inception in 1983, over 1,800 students have graduated from the Rural Alaska Honors Institute. Alumni have earned more than 1,360 degrees from the University of Alaska and other institutions around the U.S. and beyond.

Rural Alaska Honors Institute students attend at no cost, due to support from the university and other organizations. These include Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Arctic Slope Community Foundation, ConocoPhillips, Donlin Gold LLC, First National Bank of Alaska, Saltchuk, Tanana Chiefs Conference, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Hatch Project 1018914), Water Wagon and other private donors. 

The 2023 Rural Alaska Honors Institute graduates are Keoni Andrew (New Stuyahok), Austin Bennett (Nuiqsut), Nina Callier (Craig), Emilee Caskey (Ketchikan), Ryan Chaney (Bethel), Rie Christianson (Sitka), Annatasia Conway (Copper Center), Alanis Cortes Burgos (Delta Junction), Pierre DeMers (Healy), Marvellous Emani (Utqiaġvik), Shaniah Eneyuk (New Stuyahok), Shania Flemings (Bethel), Brooke Gilbert (King Cove), Madison Grapengeter (Delta Junction), Tanya Hernandez (Twin Hills), Frances Itta (Atqasuk), Jillian Jackson (Kake), Frieda James (Platinum), Nena Johnson (Mountain Village), Jada Jones (Bethel), Ginger Keller (Valdez), Mildred Kozevnikoff (Akiak), Jenessa Lee (Kenai), Rylee Lekanoff (Unalaska), Kesia Luhr (Petersburg), Jackson Macon (Galena), Kristen Maxie (Napaskiak), Vassily Myers (Pilot Station), Camryn Oktollik (Tikigaq), Zayne Olsen (Glennallen), Kasey Oviok (Point Hope), Darwon Paul (Holy Cross), Dezmari Peter (Wasilla), Spencer Petticrew (Wrangell), Hannah Pingayak (Chevak), Sanjeev Putta (Ketchikan), Tryston Quigley (Naukati Bay), Isabelle Ranck (Tazlina), Madison Reams (Soldotna), Dorothy Sakeagak (Anchorage), Teriana Sipary (Napaskiak), DeVon Smith (Anchorage), Cody Smith (St. Mary's), Magdelina Stringer (Utqiaġvik), Raeanne Susook (Kaltag), Jonas Tweet (Dillingham) and Leilani Wholecheese (Nenana).

MORE INFORMATION: https://www.uaf.edu/rahi/

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