Rural Alaska Honors Institute celebrates 44th graduation

Rural Alaska Honors Institute celebrates 44th graduation

The Rural Alaska Honors Institute will hold its 44th annual graduation July 9 at 1 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 UAF's College of Indigenous Studies, brings students from rural Alaska to the UAF campus to discover what it's like to attend college.

For six weeks during summer, students live in dorms on the Troth Yeddha' Campus while taking up to 10 college credits. Students take classes in writing, library science, diesel technology, process technology, chemistry, Alaska Native studies, research and education. On weekends, students explore Interior Alaska through hiking, canoeing and camping.

Since its founding in 1983, RAHI has graduated nearly 2,000 students. About 70 percent of RAHI alumni return to the UA system after high school graduation, with the majority opting to attend UAF.

Students attend RAHI at no cost thanks to support from: Alaska Airlines; Alaska IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence; Alaska Technical Vocational Education Program; Arctic Slope Community Foundation; Bering Straits Native Corp.; ConocoPhillips; Donlin Gold; Federal Highway Administration; First National Bank Alaska; Quintillion; UAF's Sustaining Indigenous and Local Knowledge, Arts, and Teaching project; Tanana Chiefs Conference; Alaska Tribal Technical Assistance Program; and other private donors.

The RAHI Class of 2026 includes: Jayden Anderson (Nikiski), Blaze Baldwin-Alexander (Nenana), Joshua Barron (Kotzebue), Megan Christopherson (Naukati Bay), Madison Conatser (Craig), Kenobi Cordova (Healy), Lydia Dagen (Kodiak), Roselyn Daniel (Bethel), Andrea Drover (Talkeetna), Edna Eningowuk (Shishmaref), Iris Evan (Lower Kalskag), Chloee Freireich (Grayling), Denise Gonzales (Gambell), Kaycee Guiang (Unalaska), Mason Heller (Glennallen), Judah-Benjamin Ivanoff (Unalakleet), Gunnar Johansen (Dillingham), Alana Kelila (Anchorage), Niomi Kochuten (Unalaska), Ava Lane (Klawock), Sophia Manuba (Savoonga), David Mekiana (Anaktuvuk Pass), Genevieve Muldoon (Eagle), Grace Muldoon (Eagle), Janissa Noongwook (Gambell), Malissa Noyakuk (Nome), Stacy Oktollik (Point Hope), Savannah Overbay (Minto), Lander Pantaleon (Whittier), Lucas Penayah (Savoonga), Leilani Rabanal (Unalaska), Nuala Rego (Nabesna), Destiny Seetot (Brevig Mission), Susana Tickett (Shungnak), Eve Tommy (Bethel), Emily Walluk (Nome), Kaydence Wilson (King Cove), Asialuk Woods (Anaktuvuk Pass).

007-27