Archive

Born in Cusco, Peru, and raised in Anchorage, art alumna Allison Castillo takes inspiration from the close resemblance her Peruvian heritage has with Alaska Native culture. She wasn’t always sure if and how she was going to use her artistic passion, however, but found her path after joining Native Student Council, taking the inspirational advice of a professor, and most of all, the encouragement of her mother.

Entering the real world after leaving school can be intimidating, but civil engineering graduate and leadership honors recipient Mohamed Niagne is off to a great start. Mohamed will launch his career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May 2018, and hopes to use his talents around the world to bring better services to communities while finding safer methods to tap into natural resources.

Marilyn Sigman has taught and written about science in Alaska for 35 years. How did UAA's Creative Writing and Literary Arts M.F.A. help her shape her thinking and reflections into a book?

Peter Renner won a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship to cover his graduate education. A lot of hard work paved the way.

Tara Thompson has a talent for making difficult feats look effortless. This past season she helped the UAA women's basketball team finish first in the final GCI Great Alaska Shootout and second in the NCAA Division II West Regional Tournament while double-majoring in accounting and management.

Ed Lester is principal at Newhalen School, on the shore of Lake Iliamna. After earning his bachelor's of education in 2002, he's been able to advance his education career from the village where he grew up thanks to UAA.

As a transportation engineer, Robert DeVassie designs roadways for all users, ages and abilities. And as an über-involved resident of Anchorage, he's hoping to lend that engineering expertise to build a better, bike-able city.

CRW is firmly committed to engineering in Alaska. That's why half its staff — 33 people in total — hold degrees from UAA, and why the company prioritizes a culture that celebrates the outdoors. Read more about the firm's immense UAA connections, and its contributions to our state's cycling scene.

Valerie Baalerud, a local high school teacher who earned both her history bachelor's and a master's in teaching at UAA in 2011, is the only Alaskan to win a 2017-18 Milken Educator Award, out of 44 across the nation.

Reese Hanneman, a renowned Nordic skier, did his home state proud when he competed on the U.S. Olympic team earlier this year, taking 14th place Feb. 18 in the men’s 4x10 km relay at the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.