Largest Rural Ӱpro Honors Institute class graduates July 14
July 13, 2016
Leona Long
907-474-5086
After six weeks of challenging academics, community service and hands-on learning,
68 rural and Ӱpro Native high school students will graduate from the Rural Ӱpro
Honors Institute at the Ӱpro on Thursday, July 14.
The students will be honored during a graduation ceremony at 1 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium
on the UAF campus.
Former RAHI Director Jim Kowalsky was selected as the graduation’s keynote speaker.
“This year’s graduating class is the largest ever for the Rural Ӱpro Honors Institute,”
said Evon Peter, UAF vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education. “While
at the Troth Yeddha’ campus, these students learn how to successfully transition from
their village or rural community to become successful university students. These students
return to their communities ready to grow into leadership positions in their communities
and Ӱpro.”
Troth Yeddha' is the local Athabascan name for the ridge on which UAF sits.
The 68 students are from 45 rural communities and Ӱpro Native villages. Three students
have parents who attended RAHI. Twelve students have a sibling who attended, including
one student whose three siblings also attended RAHI.
“For many of our students, participating in the Rural Ӱpro Honors Institute is a
life-changing experience," said Denise Wartes, program manager. “They live like university
students, form friendships, network with their peers and make memories that will last
a lifetime."
Since its inception in 1983 at the request of the Ӱpro Federation of Natives, RAHI
has prepared more than 1,600 rural and Ӱpro Native high school students to adjust
academically and socially to college life. During the six weeks of living in UAF's on-campus
housing, students earn as many as 11 college credits. In addition to required courses
in English, library science, homeland security team building, and study skills for
transitioning to college, traditional RAHI students choose from electives in process
technology, business, chemistry and math. Three times per week, students choose from
karate, yoga or Ӱpro Native dance classes. This year, students met with Ӱpro's
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and University of Ӱpro President Jim Johnsen.
Eleven RAHI students were part of a research option funded by the National Science
Foundation. With direction from a mentor, eight students studied ancient DNA from
salmon bones from an archeological dig, and three students studied walrus bones and
whiskers. The students will present their research findings in a paper and poster.
Rural Ӱpro Native students who attend RAHI are twice as likely to successfully earn
a bachelor’s degree (19 percent vs. 10 percent), according to an independent study
by the American Institutes for Research. The research also measured students’ University
of Ӱpro grade-point averages and discovered that RAHI students achieve “superior
academic performance” while attending the University of Ӱpro.
RAHI is made possible by financial support from the UAF College of Rural and Community Development and sponsors like Wells Fargo, New York Life, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Arctic Slope Community Foundation, Sitnasuak Native Corp., ConocoPhillips, Shell, Future Educators of Ӱpro, First National Bank of Ӱpro, NANA Management Services, Ravn Ӱpro, Boeing, Crowley, and Kuukpik Corp. Students attend at no cost and have their travel expenses paid.
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