Palmer, Alaska When Sara Oomittuk, an Inupiaq from Palmer, was in elementary school, she hated math and science classes because the subject matter didn’t make sense to her. In sixth grade, Sara attended ANSEP Middle School Academy and realized how exciting STEM education could be. For the first time, she met students from other […]
Bethel, Alaska In many ways, Taylor Hoffman is your typical college student – he enjoys playing basketball, snowboarding, playing the guitar and ukulele, lifting weights and spending time outdoors hunting and fishing. However, Taylor is actually far from an ordinary college kid. Originally from the small town of Bethel, Taylor grew up living a traditional […]
Tuntutuliak, Alaska From the time he was a very young child, Randall Friendly was a good student who always enjoyed learning. He grew up living a traditional Yup’ik subsistence lifestyle in Tuntutuliak, Alaska, but Randall knew he wanted go to college. He just wasn’t sure what he wanted to study or how to make it […]
Aleutian Islands, Alaska Michele Yatchmeneff, Unangax (Aleut) from Alaska’s Aleutian chain, is many things, but a stereotype is not one of them. Practicing a traditional subsistence lifestyle that is common throughout rural Alaska, Michele has a first-hand understanding of the challenges many Alaska Natives face when pursuing STEM education and careers. Luckily for Michele, her […]
Tuntutuliak, Alaska Growing up in Tuntutuliak, a village with fewer than 400 people, Cody McIntyre didn’t initially think college was going to be part of his future. Now, at age 20, he is well on his way to earning an undergraduate degree in civil engineering and has his sights set on earning a doctorate. In […]
Anchorage, Alaska For as long as she can remember, Joyell dreamed of following in her uncle’s footsteps and becoming an engineer. An Athabascan who grew up in Anchorage, Joyell was unaware of the many STEM education opportunities available to her so close to home. When she was a junior in high school, Joyell’s counselor opened […]
Bethel, Alaska Meet Charlee Korthuis, an eighth-grade student from Bethel, Alaska. Charlee considers herself a typical Alaska girl with Yup’ik roots – she loves sharing her culture with others through traditional dance, trying new things and making friends. And one day, she wants to become a geologist. “I fell in love with rocks at Girl […]
Unalakleet, Alaska Shaylyn “Yosty” Storms grew up in Unalakleet, Alaska, where she and her seven siblings lived a traditional Iñupiaq subsistence lifestyle. Passionate about protecting her family and community’s way of life, Yosty wanted to become a marine biologist. She took the first steps toward this career when she joined ANSEP in high school, and […]
Wasilla, Alaska When Katherine Sakeagak (left) first became involved with ANSEP three years ago through Middle School Academy, she was already concerned about the challenges that going to college would present. Now, even though she is only a junior in high school, she is confident and prepared for college. As a full-time student at ANSEP […]
Palmer, Alaska Brock Grant became involved with ANSEP as a Middle School Academy student. Two years later, he considers himself somewhat of a scientist. After Middle School Academy, Brock continued through the ANSEP pipeline and completed a STEM Career Exploration session that opened his eyes to the world of STEM careers. Eager to learn more, […]
