Education + Awareness

With help from the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, more than 800 students have achieved their dreams of earning STEM degrees.

Seventeen-year-old Tatiana Korthuis is about to start her freshman year at the University of Alaska Anchorage. However, this long-time ANSEP student already has a jump-start on her STEM career.

The Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program recently celebrated the first graduates of its full-time Acceleration Academy (Anchorage). Seven students graduated this year with an average of 40 hours, equivalent to 1.5 years of college credit, toward a bachelor’s degree at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The middle school students in the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program recently learned from industry professionals what it would be like to own their own aerospace company and to have a chance to build and launch their own rockets.

The annual Alyeska Snow Classic puts the fun in fundraising while giving the community a chance to support Four Valleys Community School. To participate, just purchase some raffle tickets, and guess the amount of snow accumulation on the 1,096-foot peak of Mount Alyeska to the nearest one-hundredth of a foot.

This summer, your child has the opportunity to join one of the nation’s most successful and cost-effective STEM education programs, which promotes science, technology, engineering and math education with fun hands-on activities.

High school students looking to jump-start STEM careers and earn free college credits can enroll in the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program’s full-time Acceleration Academy.

The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program hosted thousands of students, faculty, alumni and strategic partners at its 24th annual Celebration Jan. 18. Honoring students’ past achievements and looking to the future, this year’s celebration theme was “Beyond the Stratosphere” and featured Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr.

Celebrate the holidays with gifts that give back from the Alaska Zoo. Whether you’re shopping for friends or family, the zoo has something for animal-lovers of all ages.

As the holidays approach, the University of Alaska Anchorage is joining an international movement inspiring people to give back to education. Many people are familiar with #GivingTuesday but may not have heard of #GivingSchoolDay. From elementary schools to universities, communities across the world are supporting education.

Applications are now open for 2019 spring and fall semesters for the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program’s full-time high school component.

The Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program is accepting applications for its Summer Bridge component now through Dec. 7. Summer Bridge is open to Alaska students who are going to be graduating from high school and want to get a head start on their STEM degree and future career by taking a college course and completing a paid internship.

At a public forum hosted by the University of Alaska earlier this month, Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of Berkeley Law and author of “Free Speech on Campus,” said universities have an obligation to protect free speech on college campuses.

PFDs are often spent on big-screen TVs and shopping sprees. But your PFD can also go a long way toward improving the lives of Alaska’s youth. Consider donating part of your PFD to nonprofits that ensure young people across the state are fed, educated and physically active.

The new school year is here. A time of chaotic morning routines — packing lunch, wrangling shoes and hoping our son makes the bus. But be sure safety is on your mental checklist, including these tips to keep in mind all year.

Anchorage-area students can now participate in the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program full time with Acceleration Academy (UAA). This component, which supports students of all career interests, is possible in large part thanks to a partnership between ANSEP and Anchorage School District.

The start of the school year does not mean learning must be confined to workbooks and science projects. From Lyutik the majestic polar bear to George the talking magpie, Alaska Zoo residents are eager to help guests better understand their species, habitat and more.

Finding and retaining Alaska-trained teachers is a continuous challenge in Alaska where 70 percent of teachers come from elsewhere. Cultural differences and infrastructure can be challenging to new-to-Alaska teachers, especially in rural areas where turnover is high.

Going back to school is exciting, no matter the age. Everyone tries to get cool, new supplies to stand out among their peers. Consider these options:

Through paid summer internships, high school graduates are experiencing firsthand what it would be like to have a career in science, technology, engineering or math. In the far north community of Utqiagvik, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is hosting 18-year-old Ariel Schneider for an internship that has her working alongside local biologists on an eider breeding project.

Seventy Alaska students have each been awarded a $2,000 tuition and book scholarship from GCI for the next academic year. The 2018 GCI Scholarship Program is a $140,000 investment in Alaska’s next generation of leaders.

The Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program strives to make high-quality, engaging STEM education accessible to more students around the state. Pre-college components, such as Middle School Academy and Acceleration Academy, have generally been held during summer months.

Each summer the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program hosts four STEM Career Explorations that expose students to a particular facet of science, technology, engineering or math. Throughout the five-day component, students live on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus and participate in hands-on, team-based learning activities. 

Thanks to support from Bristol Bay Native Corporation, the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program hosted 54 middle school students at its May Middle School Academy. Hailing from communities across the state, Southwest Alaska to the Far North, the students gained insight into the college lifestyle and got hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering and math.

This summer, Anchorage School District students can jump-start their science, technology, engineering or math careers. ANSEP’s Middle School Academy for ASD students will be held July 31-Aug. 9.

For the second year, the University of Alaska is offering the Teach for Alaska Scholarship, a full-ride academic scholarship, valued at $12,000, to be awarded to an incoming UA student who plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in education.

The University of Alaska President’s Innovation Challenge brought university students together with community partners to solve top-of-mind issues in Anchorage. A judging panel of community leaders awarded three teams for their innovative solutions addressing locally submitted problems.

Current eighth-grade students can jump-start their college careers with ANSEP Acceleration Academy (UAA) beginning this fall. Applications are currently being accepted via ANSEP’s website.

Alaska is full of bright young people with potential, and the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) wants to empower these students by placing them on a path to leadership from a young age.

The Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program strives to effect systemic change in the hiring patterns of Alaska Natives in STEM career fields by placing students on a path to leadership. Beginning at the middle school level, ANSEP’s longitudinal model continues through high school and into undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs.