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

Leilani Wholecheese, Nenana