Video: UAA alumna prepares to run Iditarod 2018

UAA alumna Meredith Mapes (B.A. Theatre '16) has been racing dogs since she was 6 years old. Her goal: run her dogs in The Last Great Race next year.

Meredith left Alaska after high school to attend college in Oregon, but was back home after just a year. "I wanted to be in Alaska where there's snow and dog mushing and snowboarding and skiing..."

After returning home, she enrolled in UAA and fell in love with the school. "I love the theatre department there, it's amazing," she says. "The teachers were incredible, and I had a really great experience at UAA."

After graduating in spring 2016, Meredith has been working with her dogs to finish all of their qualifying races. She explains that you have to qualify before signing up for the Iditarod - she plans to sign up this summer to do next year's big race.

"This year was really special to me because I did have mostly dogs that I'd raised from puppies," says Meredith.

Meet Meredith Mapes.

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