The University of Alaska Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus is pleased to announce the recipient of its Outstanding Student of the Year Award for 2024-2025: Ida Shannon Qak’vaq David of Bethel. The daughter of Emma and the late Rev. James David, both Moravian missionaries, Ida is the second youngest of seven children. She spent her early years in Kongiganak, AK, before moving to Bethel in the late 1990s.

Ida’s interest in education was sparked by an uncle who was one of the first Yup’ik teachers in the village, inspiring her to pursue knowledge. After graduating from high school in Kongiganak in 1995, she earned her AA degree in 1999, her RHS certificate in 2016, and her AAS degree in 2018. Ida will receive her Bachelor of Social Work degree this spring, making her the first person in her family to graduate from college, a goal she set for herself and proudly achieved.

Ida initially chose Kuskokwim Campus for its small, accessible environment, close proximity to home, dormitory, and the variety of student activities, including dances, skiing, basketball, yuraq, and student government. She fondly remembers traveling with her classmates to St. Mary’s for a potlatch and learning unique Yup’ik terms from George Keene, an elder from Kasigluk, in her Yup’ik class.

One of the aspects Ida values most about her recent college experiences is the cohort model of teaching in the RHS, HUMS, and BSW programs. The support of new classmates, friends, and elders in the classroom has been invaluable to her journey. She credits her dedicated instructors, including Sophie, Oscar, Jane, Joli, and Diane, for their guidance along the way.

Before taking on the role of RHS Program Administrator at KuC, Ida worked at YKHC, helping individuals navigate the Yup’ik life cycle, historical trauma, grief and healing, and life crises. Her experiences in education and training have deepened her passion for the behavioral health field.

Ida’s advice to other students is simple:

 “It’s never too late to learn” and “Don’t give up!”

Congratulations, Ida, from all of us at Kuskokwim Campus!

RAHI Kicks Off its 43rd Summer

Article by Brianna Pauling

On May 27, Rural Alaska Honors Institute will welcome 42 students representing 33 Alaskan communities to UAF’s Troth Yeddha’ Campus for its 43rd annual summer program. This year’s theme is “Forge Your Path, Shape Your Future."

RAHI is a six-week summer program for rural Alaskan and Alaska Native high school juniors and seniors. Students take up to 10 college credits, experience life on campus, and participate in recreation activities. To date, 1,948 students have graduated from the program and have gone on to earn over 1,461 credentials ranging from certificates to Ph.D.s.

The 2025 RAHI students will take a handful of core classes and will specialize in Alaska Native language, Indigenous cultures of Alaska, research, writing, rural education, chemistry, and process technology.

A graduation ceremony will be held to celebrate their achievements on Thursday, July 10th, at 1:00 p.m. in the Schaible auditorium.

For more information about RAHI, please visit their website. 

Celebrating RHS Students at the Completion Ceremony

On April 9th, the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Interior Alaska Campus Rural Human Services (RHS) Program hosted a Recognition Ceremony at the Harper Building, honoring this year’s 13 graduates. The event celebrated their accomplishments as they earned the 34-credit Rural Human Services certificate, a culturally relevant academic program designed for rural, village-based human service workers, natural helpers, and healers.

The ceremony began with an opening prayer by Andrew Jimmy, followed by a welcome from Julie Biddle, Interior Alaska Campus Director. UAF Provost Anupma Prakash, Michael Powell with Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, and Teisha Simmons, Dean of the College of Indigenous Studies, offered their congratulations and praise to the graduates for their hard work.

The RHS certificate program equips students with the skills needed to serve their communities in areas such as substance abuse, suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and grief and healing. The program integrates Alaska Native culture throughout its curriculum, with Native Elders playing a key role in the learning experience.

A special moment of the ceremony was the tribute to Dr. Elizabeth Fleagle, who has served as the program's lead elder for over 25 years. Dr. Fleagle’s wisdom, leadership, and deep compassion have been foundational to the RHS program, inspiring countless students across the state. The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt closing prayer in her honor.

The  UAF College of Indigenous Studies (CIS) Kuskokwim Campus will host the Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony on May 8th, 2025 at 3pm at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel Alaska. 

Congratulations to all the graduates of the RHS Program! With the skills and knowledge gained through this certificate, they are now better prepared to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

RHS Group Photo 1: (students, faculty, elders, staff). Starting back row (left to right) Dana Silva (RHS Staff), Jadelyn Gleason (student of Dillingham), Wesley Ivanoff (Student of Unalakleet), Robyn Henry (RHS Instructor of Anchorage), Vera Spence (Student of Eagle River), Kim Chang (Student of Kotzebue); Middle row: (left to right) Betty Nelson (Student of Big Lake), Kristin Paniptchuk (Student of Shaktoolik), Lorna Sua'ava (Student of Palmer), Rachel Fraker (Student of Yakutat) Norma Hiratsuka (Student of Dillingham), Hope Livingston (Student of Kodiak); Front row: (left to right) Sonja Earsley (Student of Kenai), Gwen Emel (RHS Instructor of Wasilla), Elizabeth Fleagle (Elder of Fairbanks), Andrew Jimmie (Elder of Minto/Fairbanks), Jana Collins (Student of Kotzebue).

Maggie Nuggalaq Miller from Nome is a tribal member of the Nome Eskimo Community. Her success with the College of Indigenous Studies is largely due to the accessibility of distance learning programs. Virtual class opportunities allowed Maggie to gain knowledge from professors across Alaska, even while navigating the unique challenges COVID-19 brought to communities.

“Many of the professors I have worked with I have never met in person, but I’ve been able to connect with them and learn through virtual learning. Much of the staff at the College of Indigenous Studies are Indigenous women or allies of Indigenous people. It is such a privilege to learn from professors based in rural communities, just like I am, who are willing to share their lived experiences. All of our communities are different, but we share similar struggles, successes, and values as Indigenous people. That made it so easy to learn from the CIS faculty, no matter how far away we might be.”

Distance learning has created space for Maggie to contribute her education back into her community, full-time career, and subsistence-based lifestyle. Her current profession centers on sharing cultural knowledge within communities across the Bering Strait region to reconnect traditional practices of the Inuit, Yup’ik, and St. Lawrence Island Yup'ik. Maggie graduates in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Rural Development with a concentration in Human and Social Development and a minor in Tribal Management.

A Students Voice: "Precious Memories" by Heather Kanuk

Heather Qerrell’aq Kanuk is in her third year of pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This spring, she is enrolled in WRTG F111, a writing class taught by Assistant Professor Katie Lubowicki through the Interior Alaska Campus. As part of the class, students are encouraged to tell their own stories, an experience that gave Heather the chance to write about someone very special to her.

In her piece titled “Precious Memories,” Heather reflects on time spent with her grandfather, Henry Acurun’aq Kanuk, out on the ocean near her home in Kongignak, Alaska. Her story is a heartfelt snapshot of a cherished moment in time and the deep bond between granddaughter and grandfather. Through vivid imagery and a strong sense of place, Heather brings readers into the boat with them—where the smell of salt and freshly cut wood still lingers in her memory.

“My grandpa was my safe place and my best friend. During the summer, my grandpa would take me out by boat to the ocean. We would gather wood near the land where the waves would push out all the wood. I helped carry the chainsaw as he made his way out of the boat. You could hear and see the wood chips when he cut the wood, as I brought wood back to the boat. You could hear ocean waves that hit the side of the boat. I couldn’t have asked for more and I didn’t know how blessed I was to just spend this day with him. Even now, I can smell the salt from the ocean, the freshly cut wood and the smell of the chainsaw. I miss him and I always picture this day wearing a blue and red button shirt, his work pants, and beat-up cap."

"At the age of 15, my grandpa taught me how to drive a boat. Little did I know this was going to be my favorite thing to do for the rest of eternity. We didn’t have fancy boats like the ones you see on TV. The boat we had was a 16-foot Lund, more like a skiff and the Honda 40 horse powered motor manual, not the steering wheel. I know it's not that fancy, but it is common in the village due to better gas mileage and lasting a long time.”

Heather’s story is a reminder of the power of storytelling—how personal memories can resonate and connect with others. It also highlights the importance of classes like WRTG F111, where rural students are given space and support to share their voices.

Photo: Henry Acurun’aq Kanuk & Heather Qerrell’aq Kanuk at the ocean in Kongignak, Alaska, Summer 2013.