Kuskokwim Campus celebrates 50th Commencement

by Greg Lincoln

The Kuskokwim Campus (KuC) in Bethel, Alaska held the 2024 Commencement on May 7th, and is also celebrating 50 Golden Years of serving the Yukon Kuskokwim delta region.

The graduation ceremony took place at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center. Special speakers included: Carolyn Goolsby, M.L.S. Kuskokwim Campus Director who gave the Director’s Welcome and Introductions; Louie Andrew, Orutsararmiut Native Council Traditional Chief (who also graduated with an AA degree during KuC’s inaugural commencement in 1975) prayed the invocation and benediction; Dr. Jessica Black, Associate Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education, UAF – commencement remarks; Dr. Anupma Prakash, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, UAF – commencement remarks; Clarence Angapak Daniel of Bethel – Keynote Address speaker; and Sassa E. Brink, Bachelor of Arts graduate of Kasigluk – student address speaker.

Kuskokwim Campus staff and faculty welcomed their esteemed guests. Joining the speakers (listed above) were the Ayaprun School Yup’ik Dancers who performed the opening drumming and the closing song; the Bethel Regional High School JROTC for presenting the colors and leading of the Pledge of Allegiance; Seth Church of the Board of Regents who conferred the degrees; Emily Emory of Wolf Lake/Bethel who performed the prelude and the grand Pomp and Circumstance processional and recessional; and Veronica Plumb, M.Ed., Interim Dean, College of Rural and Community Development, UAF presented the certificates and degrees along with Director Goolsby, Provost Prakash, and Associate Vice Chancellor Black.

Since KuC began in 1972 nearly 3,600 students have earned certificates and degreees from this campus. Students can earn everything from certificates to Ph.D’s.

“Embedded in the cultural fabric of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the Kuskokwim Campus has played a central role in cultural enrichment in its community,” writes KuC in the commencement book regarding their support of the Yup’ik culture. “At the heart of … KuC is a commitment to culturally enriching education and empowerment. By offering local and relevant curriculum, language revitalization programs, and community-based research initiatives, the campus actively promotes the preservation and celebration of Indigenous knowledge, languages, and traditions.”

At KuC, students can pursue postsecondary education close to home. KuC, which occupies the indigenous and traditional lands of the Yup’ik, Cup’ik, and Athabascan peoples in southwest Alasak, honors and recognizes and respects the indigenous communities and the land of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region and throughout the state of Alaska.

Kuskokwim Campus

Class of 2024

Occupational Endorsement

•Anuoluwapo S. Azeez

Ethnobotany

Scarborough, ON

•Ama Rose Dorsey

Ethnobotany

Los Angeles, CA

•Treena C. Ivie

Ethnobotany

Wasilla

•Nikira G. Lane

Ethnobotany

Anchorage

•Ian Kyle Patten

Ethnobotany

Bolton, MA

•Tyshawn Khaalis Smithers*

Ethnobotany

Fredericksburg, VA

•James Simpson*

Ethnobotany

Bozeman, MT

•Rachel C. Webb

Ethnobotany

Clam Gulch

•Kyra Woods

Ethnobotany

Metairie, LA

•Raven Ashley Palmer

Sustainable Energy

Fairbanks

Certificates

•Gideon Azean*

Local Knowledge Educator

Kongiganak

•Susie P. Carl*

Local Knowledge Educator

Toksook Bay

•Anita Chase*

Local Knowledge Educator

Nunapitchuk

•Alison Kassel-Waska

Local Knowledge Educator

Kasigluk

•Julia Lewis*

Local Knowledge Educator

Chefornak

•Tania C. Nichols

Local Knowledge Educator

Kwigillingok

•Mary K. Nicholai*

Local Knowledge Educator

Kwethluk

•Eva M. Panruk

Local Knowledge Educator

Chefornak

•Howard R. Tinker

Local Knowledge Educator

Kasigluk

•Alice M. Tulik*

Local Knowledge Educator

Toksook Bay

•Ruth B. Imgalrea*

Rural Human Services

Bethel

•Barbara Moore*

Rural Human Services

Manokotak

•Serena Rose Solesbee

Tribal Governance

Bethel

Associate Degrees

•Patricia Jean Pretorius

suma cum laude

A.A.S. Human Services

Old Harbor

•Dakota Star Sipary*

A.A.S. Human Services

Interdisciplinary

St. Mary’s

•Fritz Gunlik*

A.A.S. Tribal Governance

Kipnuk

•Anita Chase*

cum laude

A.A. General Program

Nunapitchuk

•Amber Nicole Dennis*

A.A. General Program

St. Mary’s

•Arlene Marie Kamuck

A.A. General Program

St. Mary’s

•April C. Nukusuk

cum laude

A.A. General Program

Hooper Bay

•Eva M. Panruk

A.A. General Program

Chefornak

•Anaan Myra Woods*

A.A. General Program

Toksook Bay

Baccalaureate Degrees

•Sassa E. Brink

cum laude

B.A. Social Work

Kasigluk

•Paula Thomasa Charles

B.A. Child Development and Family

Studies: Family Support

Modesto, CA

•Alison Kassel-Waska

B.A. Elementary Education

Kasigluk

•Brianna Grace Norton

cum laude

B.A. Social Work

Nunapitchuk

•Rosalie M. Pavilla

B.A. Child Development and Family

Studies: Curriculum and Teaching

Tuluksak

Master’s Degrees

•Twyla D. Elhardt

M.S. Nursing Science:

Family Nurse Practitioner

UAA

Bethel

Post-Baccalaureate and Graduate Certificates

•Monica Friday

Gr. Cert., Elementary Education:

Initial Teacher Certification Program

Chevak

•Marybeth Rose Whalen

Gr. Cert., Climate Security

Bethel

Congratulations!