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!