Summer @ UAF

Summer Sessions and Lifelong Learning is a part of UAF that provides even more opportunities to take classes during the year.  And while their title says "summer" they also do amazing 2 week sessions.  That's right. You can take a 3-credit class in just two weeks!  These sessions are called Wintermester and Maymester.  It's a great opportunity to take some of the core classes that you just can't seem to find time for.  


Just after the first of the year, students can come back to classes early and start Wintermester.  Not all the classes are core one, there are some more interesting ones, such as Electric Car Conversion; Your Mind and How to Use It and Athabascan Beadwork, Tufting and Porcupine Quillwork.  


And, after the end of spring semester, MAYmester comes quick! MAYmester is a great way to start of summer sessions.  The summer consists of a 12-week semester (just like the normal year) and 2 6-week sessions, which are accelerated semesters.  This past summer I took both semesters of Anatomy and Physiology in just 12 weeks! It was intense, but I would do it again.  You can see some pictures of our lab on this page.  


If you are an out of state student, there's good news for you!  Summer Sessions charge in-state tuition for everyone during the summer!  Summer classes can help you graduate sooner, or just provide a time to take a fun class that you many not have had time for during the school year.  Another great thing is that summer is part of the current school year, so no tuition hikes will happen yet.  It's the last opportunity to get the cheapest tuition at UAF.  


If you aren't a UAF student, no worries!  "Summer@UAF offers open enrollment so you do not need to be formally admitted to the university to register for classes. If the course(s) you decide to register for has prerequisites you will need to provide transcripts or test scores that show you have met the prerequisites." (FAQ Page)


Registration for WINTERmester opens when Spring Semester registration starts - early November.  And Maymester and Summer Sessions open toward the end of February. I always recommend signing up early because some classes are very, very popular and fill up quickly.  


In my opinion, it is never too early to start planing for the rest of your college plans.  

Lydia: On living on campus

UAF Student Ambassador, Lydia talks about living on campus.



Do you have questions for Lydia? Post them in the comments section here or visit http://www.uaf.edu/ambassadors/student_ambassadors/lydia/ to send her a message.

Intramurals

One thing that I look forward to every week is my intramural soccer game. It may be because I love playing soccer, or it might be because I enjoy getting to hang out with my teammates. Either way, it’s a great way to de-stress, relax, work out, and have some fun. The best thing about UAF intramurals is that you get to meet new people, learn new sports, or play your old favorites.

Broomball is another awesome intramural sport at UAF. If you’ve never seen a broomball game, check it out! To me, it's a combination between soccer and hockey. It's played on the ice, without ice skates, and you use a broomball stick to hit the ball. The ball is a small version of a soccer ball. There’s lots of sliding and falling, but somehow it’s addicting.

If these don’t sound like your type of fun, there’s plenty more intramurals to choose from. There’s bowling, volleyball, flag football, dodgeball, floor hockey, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, basketball, and water polo. Which brings me to another point – if you’re a water polo spectator, there’s a nice, warm, relaxing sauna-like room that you can sit in to watch, if that’s your cup of tea.

Or, if the whole team sport idea doesn’t work out for you, there’s a bunch of cross-country skiing trails right next to UAF. I can literally walk a minute outside of my on-campus apartment, strap on my skis, and hit the trails.

That's one thing I enjoy about UAF - you can be as active as you want to be. There's a lot of different options (other than the gym) to choose from, and you can have a lot of fun while staying in shape.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Alaska Nanooks mascot legacy is full of fun and sweat

I stumbled upon this article in the local paper, The Fairbanks Newsminer this morning and thought it was worth sharing. In summary, it's the true story of our amazing Alaska Nanook mascot and the people behind the costume.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Alaska Nanooks mascot legacy is full of fun and sweat

Enjoy!

Elections!

Last Monday I happened to find out that Lisa Murkowski was speaking at UAF. It was an informal gathering at the Great Hall, and students and community members had a chance to talk to Murkowski in a casual setting.

Murkowski was running a write in campaign against Republican Nominee Joe Miller and Democrat Scot Mc Adams. Elections are done with now, and looks like Alaskans wrote in Murkowski. The write in ballots have not been counted up yet, but Murkowski still has a good chance of winning a write in campaign!

The last time a write in campaign was won was in 1954 by Strom Thurmond. I think if Alaska wasn't the small community that it is, Murkowski's write in campaign may not have been as successful. In my opinion it is easier to reach out to 600,000 people in Alaska vs 36,961,664 people in California!

This "small community" atmosphere was very apparent in the room as Murkowski answered questions. Students asked questions mostly about issues pertaining mostly about health care and the university. At the end of the question-answer session Murkowski said she had to catch a flight soon, but those who did not get to ask questions could walk with her. This was very different from the huge rallies I see on TV where the candidates seem unapproachable. I would like to point out that Murkowski is not alone in her approachable ways, many other Alaskan politicians are very approachable.

Ive been in Alaska only 3 years and have had a chance to meet and talk to Senator Begich, Murkowski, late Senator Stevens, Governor Sean Parnell and the previous US Secretary of Commerce. Many of these meetings have been due to my involvement in Students who Enjoy Economic Thinking (SWEET!) an econ club on campus which organizes seminars with economists and politicians for UAF among other awesome econ acticities like a book club and even a scholarship program. It is a great way to get involved and be active and you really get to benefit from the fact that this is a small community that has a ton of opportunities for everyone!

CollegeWeekLive This Week!

CollegeWeekLive FALL
November 3rd & 4th, 9 AM - 10 PM Eastern

Meet the University of Alaska Fairbanks online at CollegeWeekLive FALL on November 3rd and 4th from 9 AM to 10 PM Eastern.

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Visit our virtual booth to chat live with University of Alaska Fairbanks admissions reps about topics such as admissions, financial aid, campus life, and more! 

Natural Resources, Sciences, and Fisheries Career Day

Yesterday was an important day for those UAF students trying to devise a plan for next summer. UAF hosts a career day for students interested in natural resources and natural sciences. Federal, state, and private employers are invited to campus to talk to students about seasonal, full-time, and internship opportunities.

Employers from all over Alaska (and some from the Lower 48) speak with students about potential jobs, benefits, resume advice, and schooling. It's a great opportunity for students to meet people who were once in the same boat and know how exhaustive the job search can be! The representatives are more than happy to answer any questions, and they like seeing students' initiative to join them in conversation.

UAF always strives to give students chances to connect with employers. UAF's Career Services also sets up job shadow opportunities so students can see what a "day on the job" would be like. Check out the Career Services website at http://www.uaf.edu/career! It's packed with helpful information for students.

Though I haven't gotten a job specifically through this event, I've made connections to federal agencies like the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and United States Geological Survey that have set up my field jobs. Getting your name out there is the most important part, and it's pretty easy to do here in Fairbanks!

Some October Events!

Hi! We're a month into the school year and we've had some amazing events.  We also have some awesome events coming up.  There is bound to be something that you're interested in, and while I'm talking just about this year, events like these happen every year!

If you are 21+, our pub on campus has a smoke-free environment with entertainment almost nightly.  So far this month, we've had a poetry slam, a 90's hip-hop dance, Panopticon (a band), pub trivia, and an open mic night!  Coming up at the pub this month still includes karaoke night, a Halloween Bash and more fun nights!  It's a fun place to meet up with friends and have some tasty nachos.

The Student Activities Office has events almost weekly!  This month they've had a comedian, movies that haven't come out on DVD yet, and a huge dance!  Events to come include a Halloween Carnival, a concert (Tobacco) and a Thrill The World event!  Most of these events are really cheap, because they know we're college students.

If you are into the sports scene, there have been hockey and volleyball games as well as swim meets! It's fun to watch the Nooks play and cheer on people you might have a class or two with.  There are more sporting events to check out as well.  One of my friends has started a club to help influence students to get to sporting events! It's called the Nanook Pride Club.  For every hockey game you attend, you get one point.  Every basketball and volleyball game: two points! For every meet (swimming, rifle, running and skiing): three points!  The points accumulate to win prizes!  There is rumor that there will be a drawing at the end of the season with the people tied for the highest points to win an Alaska Air ticket!

There have been guest lecturers, such as Patch Adams, plays and many, many other awesome events that have occurred this month.  If you're ever bored, it's probably your own fault :)

Opportunities at UAF

Imagine you've just graduated from college. You're at an interview for what could be your dream job, and the interviewer says, "show me some of the work you've done in the past".

So what if during your college experience you never did get the time to do an internship; what do you show the interviewer?

This is where the many opportunities at UAF come into play. I can't begin to emphasize how wonderfully the classes at UAF tie into one another. Especially if your a business student like I am. The business program may be the smallest at UAF, but it certainly packs some punch when it comes to preparing its students for the "real world". Once a student reaches their upper level classes, they tend to all tie into one another so well, that projects from one class can be applied in another. This is exactly what I am able to do.

Currently I am a business student in my senior year. I am fortunate enough that in three of my classes I am able to tie together my projects, and create one larger project, adding to my portfolio that I will be able to show potential employers one day.

For example, in my Small Business Management course I am putting together a business plan on a wedding planning business. Of course everyone got to choose what they were interested in working on; my interests just happen to lie in opening a wedding planning business one day. So I am working on putting together a business plan for what I hope one day will become reality.

Then, in another one of my classes, Advertising, Sales, and Promotion, I was able to put together an advertising campaign for the hypothetical business. And, last but not least, for my Management of Information Systems class I was able to put together a website for the hypothetical business. All these projects from different classes may have individually have been a bunch of random little projects. But since these upper level classes tie together so well, I was able to tie my individual projects into one larger project, that I will one day be able to present as part of my portfolio.

Check out some of the work that has been done so far....

http://www.akweddingplanning.webs.com/

Winter is Here!!!

The snow is finally here and it is here to stay. Old man winter has come and the winter activities will be commencing with much anticipated vigor this year. There are all kinds of outdoor activities to experience that everyone is sure to enjoy; whether your passion is skiing, skating, ice-climbing, mountaineering, sledding, snow machining, curling, hockey, watching the northern lights, or simply playing in the snow with friends. Fairbanks is everyone's oyster that is ready to be discovered and opened.
Winter is the best part of the alaskan experience and everyone should take advantage of it to its fullest potential, but don't forget to do your homework first ; ).

Journalism field experience

It wasn't an ordinary Thursday, as I woke up at 4:45 am to bike to campus. Who in their right mind would wake up at that hour? Believe me, it was pretty painful. But if I hadn't done it, I would have missed out on a day of army training exercises at Fort Greely, which is about a 2 hour drive from Fairbanks.

My News Reporting & Writing professor had told my class, and many other journalism classes, about an opportunity to "embed" with a unit of the 1-25th Stryker Brigade of Fort Wainwright. While 2 fellow journalism students and I had been told that meant we'd follow the 5-1 Cavalry on a scenario set up like a real war situation, we ended up getting a tour of training exercises. It included riding up part of Donnelly Dome in a Stryker (see above image with UAF student Faith Minnema on the right), learning about the gunnery range and riding in a Humvee behind a firing Stryker, meeting some Afghan men who help out with scenarios, and watching the medical unit take care of a staged emergency medical situation. What a day!

UAF's departments try to get students out "in the field" as much as possible, as I've witnessed through both the biology and journalism departments. The experiences I've had have given me many photography and story opportunities for which I'm grateful. The skills I've learned and used are invaluable for the future. I'm already looking forward to my next unique field opportunity!

Check out the UAF Journalism site! www.uaf.edu/journal

James in the Outdoors

James Smith, senior wildlife biology major talks about taking advantage of his time in the outdoors.

Winter is coming...

While today's temperatures are supposed to have a high around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, we are getting close to freezing at night.  This morning, we were almost at the point of frost on the windshields, and I suppose, depending on your home-in-Fairbanks, there may have been frost this week.  This is just one way I know winter is coming in Fairbanks.

Two weeks ago, classes started.  I can't believe two weeks of classes have already passed and that the next 10 weeks will go by much faster than I anticipate.  My classes are interesting and I don't dread any of them.  This is just one way I know winter is coming in Fairbanks. 

90% of the deciduous trees have changed from the summer green to autumn oranges, reds, browns and yellows.  The putrid scents of the Alaskan wild roses and other plants preparing for winter are upon us.  I love all of the seasons because the scenery always changes too. This is just one way I know winter is coming.

Soon, all of the amazing summer colors spread among the flower beds across campus will be prepared for winter.  This is just one way I know winter is coming.  

Starvation Gulch, a Nanook Tradition, is next weekend, September 24-25. Every year that I've been in Fairbanks, some snow has fallen during this weekend.   The schedule for this awesome weekend looks like this:

Friday, September 24th

Nappy Roots Concert - 8:00pm

SRC Latenighter 10:00pm - 1:00am

Saturday, September 25th

Bonfire Set-up - 8:00am - 2;00pm

Blue/Gold Hockey Game - 6:05pm

Bonfires 10:00pm - 2:00am

Pizza&Police / Nanook Theater 12:00am

Every year that I've been in Fairbanks, some snow has fallen during this weekend.  This is just one way I know winter is coming.   


The start of the Alaska Nanook Hockey season starts during the weekend of Starvation Gulch with the Blue/Gold game. Other athletics have also started, which brings on the Alaska Nanook Pep Band.  I'd have to say I love watching Alaska Hockey the most and so, that is just one way I know winter is coming.


All of these hint that we'll soon be below freezing temperatures during the day, and that reminds me of things I need to do before the snow actually falls.  

I need to make sure my car is ready to survive -40 Fahrenheit temperatures.  I need to make sure that all of my accessory heaters I plug in are functioning.  If you've never had your car here in the winter, you should definitely make sure you get an engine block heater, an oil pan heater and a battery blanket/heater.  These heaters help keep parts of your car warm and makes it easier to start after sitting for eight hours at really, really cold temperatures.  It is also pretty important to make sure all of your vehicles fluids are clean and full.  The last thing to prepare your vehicle for a winter in Fairbanks is to put studded tires on.  Studded tires help find friction on icy roads, but they do not make you super man.  If you are driving around Fairbanks in the winter, don't expect your studded tires to be the fix; please slow down and pay even more attention to everything.  


Another thing I need to do is find all of my winter layers.  It is extremely important to stay warm and dry in the winter, as being wet will make you colder faster.  The best layers to wear closest to your skin are materials that will wick away the water.  Materials such as polyester and silk are good to put against the skin. 
The next layer should keep you warm; wool and fleece are good options.  The outer layer should be something that is waterproof and breathable.   Weather.com has a good article on layering.  Outdoor Adventures, here at UAF, is also a good resource.   Hats, gloves and warm footwear will keep most of the heat that easily escapes closer to your body.

One last thing to note, if you are on the UAF campus and notice that there is an unsafe condition, please do not ignore it.  Facilities Services only has so many people watching and needs our help to ensure campus safety.  Please report those areas and they will get someone on the scene quickly.

Things I look forward to during the winter:
- dark skies that allow the Aurora Borealis to be seen
- hockey games (both playing and watching)
- skiing
- sledding
- ice skating
- ice sculptures
- hot cocoa
- winter break and vacations to warmer places

A New School Year

Wow! September 2nd was the first day of classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, but that's not the day students arrived!  New Student Orientation started on Sunday, August 29th this year and was 4 fun, information-filled, new connections-made days!  This year I participated in New Student Orientation as an Orientation Leader (for the 3rd fall semester in a row) and I met wayyyy too many people to count or even remember names, but it was totally worth it.  

I'll give you a brief overview of what I did this week, but you can always click here for the detailed schedule and more information for the next semester when it becomes available. 
Sunday:  Rev-It-Up! is an event that occurs on the Sunday before classes start.  It is a one-stop "shop" to get your room key, your student ID (called your Polar Express Card at UAF), set up a dining plan, talk to Health and Counseling, Parking Services, the Post Office and the Office of Information Technology (OIT).  If you are moving into a residence hall, teams of wonderful volunteers will move all of your stuff for you while you get things situated inside :D
There are also break-out sessions for both the students and parents, campus tours and lots of people!  Sunday evening is the Orientation Kick-Off.  The Kick-Off is lots of fun.  All the new students get broken into groups with an Orientation Leader who will help them throughout the next few days as well as being a resource for the rest of the year!
There were tons of events, but I'll leave that up to you to discover when you come to UAF

Earth Day Fair

Being in academia is fulfilling in itself but its also important to me to participate in making sure UAF is working to be an environmentally sustainable campus. Every year the "Sustainable Campus Task Force in coalition with a variety of other student and community groups participate in the Earth Day Fair which is held on the roof of the Lola Tilly Commons.

There is free music, free food and a variety of educational tables to check out such as Cold Housing Climate Research, Sierra Club, and The Northern Alaska Environmental Center. There were also tables teaching about efforts on campus such as the composting and recycling done at Facility Services. There is also a recycled art contest.

There were free burritos and awesome bands such as Work, The Good Daze, and Extra Tuffs.

There were all kinds of cool things to do such as plant seeds and hop on a bike to help power the band.

It was a beautiful sunny day with lots of socializing and discussing important issues about the natural environment while making UAF a better place.

Student Clubs and Events

~So Much to Do~

Wow! What a busy time of the year-Spring! The sun has returned and the snow is melting. The intensity of finishing end of the year papers, presentations and projects is in full force.

Along with making sure all my lose ends are tied with my 6 classes I also have been busy with several extracurricular activities. UAF has a diverse range of clubs events, and activities to keep every type of student busy all year long.

My classes are important to me but the hands-on organizing and participation in events and organizations gives me extra life experiences to help prepare me for the "real world".

All year long I have been organizing and holding events in an effort to educate the campus community about the environmental and human health impacts of our energy use and consumption. This has kept me VERY busy. This club is called UAF Beyond Coal.

This weekend April 17th and 18th another one of my clubs Righteous Ladies rebelling will be performing The Vagina Monologues at the Schaible Auditorium.

Next weekend I have designed an event with another one of my club's Pi Sigma Alpha. It will be hosted by Campus Progress and other cool speakers will be there like Evon Peter. This event is part of a larger tradition at UAF- Spring Fest!!

It is all very exciting and even if you are not interested in these clubs UAF is sure to have something that entertains your particular interests...and if it doesn't you can become a student leader and start your own club in just a few simple steps.

As the semester ends...

Wow, I can't believe we are three weeks away from the end of the semester.  I don't know about the rest of the student body, but I'm not anticipating too much more stress!  There are just a couple of short papers to write, a couple of finals and a couple of presentations and I'm done!

Aside from school, there is one last campus tradition that is approaching: SpringFest!
Springfest is a 3-day event that starts with a campus barbecue, then there are service projects, a field day, mud volleyball, I think lotta-no-booza occurs this weekend!  It's a fun three day weekend!  I'm looking forward to taking lots of pictures and enjoying all of the events

Paying for College

So at some point in a college student's life, whether it is at the start of one's college education, or already in the midst of their studies, there might come a time where the financial worries of going to college overwhelm the worries of studying for the next big exam. I found myself to be in such a debacle.

Ironically, when I first started out in college, the idea of financial aid never much phased me. I had a scholarship, and I always assumed that my parents would be able to cover the rest. That's what they're there for, right?

After going to college (at that time a different university) for about a year, it was time for a serious wake-up call. I'll say, once one is out on their own, not pampered at home, having all expenses paid for, the value of money seems to become oh so greater. I can't even begin to describe what a miser I turned into. It was then that I made the decision to transfer schools, to one that offered a more affordable cost of attendance, while offering excellent value.

Seeing as I am now a Student Ambassador at UAF, it is safe to say that my final stop, concerning my college education, is UAF. I couldn't be happier with the decision I made to come here (I am a proud Nanook). Ah, but then the issue of financing my education, even at a more affordable school became a bit of an issue.

Here's the deal... I have such wonderful parents, who have supported me all through college (encouraging me and financially supporting me), that they decided they wanted me to be debt free by the time I graduate. This means no loans- period. Yes, you read right; I have never taken out a loan of any kind to support my college education. However, as one might imagine, money had become tight. I can't even begin to explain how LUCKY I was when the Post 9/11 GI Bill became effective on August 1,2009.

Although the benefits of this bill originally belonged to my father (who is in the Army), he transferred his benefits to me (military can choose to transfer their benefits of this bill to their dependents). Thanks to my father and this bill, my entire education is financed through the VA. My tuition and fees are paid for, I receive a housing allowance, and a yearly books and supplies stipend of $1,000. It is a rush of relief not having to worry about paying for my education.

Overall, I just want others to know about this latest and great form of financial aid. If you want to read more about it you can visit:
http://www.uaf.edu/veterans/benefit_programs/
or
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Post-911.htm

Other than that, I hope that if you didn't at least learn a lesson by reading about my past financial experiences, that you might have learned about a form of financial aid that may be of use to you.

Anne :-)

Conferences

There is probably a conference going every day of the year minus major holidays! They are a great place to meet people, gather new ideas and even experience a different location. Even my boyfriend is in Florida (lucky!!!) at a conference for work for computer training. 

The most current conference in my future is the one I'm planning!  It is a conference for all the chapters of Alpha Phi Omega in Section 8!  This includes brothers from the Universities of Alaska Anchorage and Juneau, University of Washington, Seattle University and University of Oregon, who are all coming to Fairbanks for a weekend of leadership, friendship and service! Recently we had a region conference, which unfortunately is just the chapters in our section at the moment.  You can read about that one here!

Planning a conference is slightly more stressful than just attending one.  My committee of two of my brothers and an adviser, have worked since the semester started to get this conference rolling.  I've also been in direct contact with our region director who has been a HUGE help. 

We've had to look at finding flights that students can afford (pretty much only Alaska Airlines flys from the rest of the United States between September and May), finding housing for all of these brothers and associate members - both with brothers from my chapters and at a hotel for the staff (about 15 brothers from the other schools and 4 staff members), organizing meals, activities and transportation for everyone involved (all in all, about 32 people), and registering and budgeting the registration costs.   And we are still keeping up with our day to day lives and other chapter related issues.  It's been a stressful couple of months, but we'll see it all come together this weekend!

I'm super excited and I'll post pictures and talk a little more about what happened next week!

Have a good Saint Patrick's Day!!!
Mercedes

Governor's Cup 2010

Hey Everyone!
As a part of the Nanook Traditions: Winter Carnival, the Governor's Cup was played. The Governor's Cup is a hockey tournament between the Alaska Nanooks and University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. I can't remember how many years its been played, but I do know that the Nanooks won the cup this year after losing for the past three years.

Here are two of my brothers from Alpha Phi Omega with the Governor's cup.

This year, Alpha Phi Omega teamed up with the Student Activities Office (SAO) and ASUAF (The Associated Students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks) to fund a motor coach to Anchorage to watch the first game played at the Sullivan Arena. For $30, students got a ride to Anchorage and back, a t-shirt, a ticket to the game and noisemakers. A pretty sweet deal to cheer on our team on away ice.

Final score UAF 7-UAA 4. By the way, our student section over there was almost louder than the 4,000 UAA fans.

After our first two goals, we sang our school's fight song, here are the lyrics:

A photo from the Anchorage Daily News sports front page of our student section at the Sullivan Arena.

(http://www.adn.com/2010/02/26/1159357/governors-cup-hockey.html)

Some more Nanook pride:

Chancellor Rogers made an appearance at the Sullivan Arena with his wife, Sherrie.

The second game packed the Carlson Center as the Nanooks played on home ice! Only 82 seats were available at the start of that game. So, pretty much packed! It was amazing! More of the t-shirts that the SAO ordered and passed out to almost the entire student section.

And the pep band:

The place was roaring, I can't even begin to describe it. Check out the highlight video at the Alaska Nanook Hockey Blog. If you're interested in any more info from a fans' perspective, you can find that too in the Nanook Hockey Blog.

During the intermission between 2nd and 3rd periods, the Tradition Stone made an appearance. After one of their players was ejected (for punching one of our players in the head), their coach was ejected (for throwing a water bottle at the ref) and one of our players was ejected (for something that was "A stupid decision, I should have backed off" [from the player at the post conference]) we won 3-2!

As for the other Winter Carnival Activities, I was too tired to attend, but I head that the showing of the unreleased to the public: Boondock Saints 2 was a success, as well as the karaoke night!

Right now, I'm looking forward to a week off of classes (though I'll be working on papers and the like) for spring break.

Mercedes

TRiO-Student Support Services Program

This past Tuesday I had the chance to give a speech at the annual TRiO Day banquet. TRiO includes a program known as SSS, or Student Support Services., as well as the Upward Bound program, which helps students prepare for college.

There are many obstacles in our lives that may make the decision to go to college, as well as making it to graduation in a four-year program feel practically impossible! For example, living in poverty, learning or physical disabilities, or even the fact that neither of your parents went through a four-year program. These factors contribute to making it less likely for students to make it through a four-year program.

I am one of those students. I have been a part of SSS since day one of my academic experience here at UAF and I would like to take a moment to let you know about these important services that are provided on our campus through SSS.

SSS services include:

* Free tutorial services
* Instruction in mathematics skills
* Academic advising, mentoring and personal support
* Cultural and social engagement
* Use of laptop computers, labs, and other technology resources
* Direct financial assistance to qualified low-income participants

I have benefited from the opportunities and services which have helped me to stay in school, as well as being more successful in my endeavors. I hope that if you are worried about applying to school because you are faced with any of these struggles, please consider the services that SSS provides.

I almost didn't apply to school because of these obstacles but with their help I have become a very successful student and today I can't imagine my life without my college experiences.

The banquet on Tuesday was a good reminder of the important role that these programs play in helping students succeed and achieve the academic experience they deserve.
The annual banquet is a day to celebrate both those who contribute to the success of the program, as well as to celebrate the success of the students who are beneficiaries of the program.

If you are thinking about applying for school and are faced with these life obstacles you can also check out SSS on Facebook

FNA 2010

It's that time of year again folks! The sun shines longer, the semester is reaching its half way point, and the much anticipated Festival of Native Arts is here! For the past 37 years students, staff, faculty, and the community of Fairbanks put in plenty of hours of planning, organizing and coordinating this annual event that gathers representatives of Alaska Native people to show and share their unique and vibrant cultural heritages.

photo by Todd Paris

The arts of music, dance, and craftsmanship, both traditional and modern, are united and celebrated with three nights of dancing that pumps in the heart of Alaska and flows back to communities throughout the state. This invitation is extended to all. Whether you're a fresh or vintage local or a visitor to the state, this is an event that will absorb your being and lift your spirit; all you have to do is show up! Did I mention it's a free event with free parking?

For some communities throughout the state, dancing was or is non-existent, and over the past few decades there has been a cultural renaissance in some areas where the people have chosen to research and relearn songs from times past. Some even create their own musical compositions with accompanied choreography. Part of the reason that festival is so powerful is that is shows the resilience of Native culture. If you can imagine winters before any modern luxuries you can imagine that unity is key to mental, physical and spiritual survival, and what better way to get together than through song, dance, and of course food! This year’s theme is “True Identity: Proud of Our Heritage.” For more information and detail about the theme you can visit this website: http://www.uaf.edu/festival/theme-logo/

The Festival of Native Arts is a very special gathering for me because on that very stage at the Concert Hall is where I remember my first, big, live performance. The year was 2002, I was in eighth grade at Clark Middle School, and a dance member of the Miracle Drummers & Dancers, a Wasilla based Yup'ik (southwest Alaska Native culture) dance group. I recall having butterflies, sweaty palms, feeling the intensity of the bright lights, and lots of eyes that were facing the opposite direction of mine. Before getting on stage I express my nervousness to my mentor. She told me that when she first started dancing she would remove her glasses so that the audience would be out of focus which helped ease her worries. I decided to try her method and as I got on stage the nerves intensified. It was my first time dancing with dance fans. I was worried I would drop the fans or that my arms would forget the motions. I remember asking the drum leader what songs we were going to perform. He says, “Don’t worry; when you hear it, you will know exactly what to do.” He prepares the singers and dancers by singing solo the chorus of the song. We collect ourselves to our places and began grooving in unison. As the drumming following the increased rhythm of our heartbeats I felt complete within myself and connected to all in that moment. Since then I could not get enough of Native dancing.

photo by Edna Henry

For me, dancing is more than a passion; it's a way of life. I am Iñupiaq with northwest Alaskan roots (as well as southern Wisconsin) and was exposed to dance early on but began my formal training when entering my teenage years. I am honored to have learned under the instruction of many respected master composers, choreographers, singers, dancers and artists. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that it is the drum that moves me, the song that guides me, the energy of the community that excites me, and I sing because I am happy, I dance because I am free. My identity is my tool for my creativity. I hope you all have a chance to take a glimpse into the arts of Alaska’s original people. Let the story dances take you on journeys, let the love songs fill your heart, and let the invitational dances allow to experience the power of the drum, and the power of the people.

Mark your calendars ladies & gentlemen, Festival of Native Arts will take place March 4th-6^th from 6 p.m. to midnight. The dancing will be at the Charles Davis Concert Hall and the artisans at Wood Center Multi-level Lounge. The last day of Festival (Saturday March 6) will begin with a potluck from noon to 2 p.m. at the Carol Brown Ballroom in the Wood Center. Bring a dish to share and/or have a taste of some our Alaskan favorites and so on. Following that will be a Pow-Wow from 2 to 5 p.m. There’s nothing better than starting off spring break weekend with singing, dancing, arts & crafts, and of course, food!

Quyana.

Robot Rock

Some people are good with athletics and compete through sports. But these guys Rock with Robots! It was a tough battle collecting and tossing balls into various goals. Sometimes there were issues and repairs had to be made quickly before the start. The officials and announcers were amazing, providing hilarious commentary. The teams did an amazing job at controlling their bots. All of this effort has put their minds and skills to the test, but they have conquered this sport and will continue to do so as they work with more robots in the future.

Just another day in paradise

Yep, you heard me, paradise. I don't need sandy beaches or palm trees, just clear and cold winter air.

February and March are by far some on my favorite months in Fairbanks. Its cold sure, but the worst is generally behind us. The sun is coming back at something like 7 minutes more sunlight a day or over 45 minutes a week! Goggle tans are in by the way. But seriously, this is the time to be outside! Get out there!

As further motivation, you now get to hear about my stellar weekend. Excited? I'm sure you are. Friday rolled around with the usual excitement (it is Friday after all!) but because lab was canceled, today consisted of trekking down to Healy for some ice climbing. Needless to say, the weather was gorgeous, the ice was fat and everyone had a great time. What more could one want?

The answer of course is more. More ice. More cold mountain air. More awesome.

Saturday morning finds us once again on the side of the highway in Healy, blue sky and sun lighting up the mountains in fantastic ways. Today's agenda is bigger, taller ice. As we rope up and begin to climb, workers from the Alaska Railroad pull up across the river on the tracks and sit and watch us work the face. I can't decide what they want to see more... us making it to the top or Jason whipping down onto his last ice screw. He builds his anchor and comes down, the railroad workers drive off; clearly they wanted the latter.

Saturday turns into Sunday and Moose Mountain beckons. It's time for some downhill skiing! The trails are great and the hill was surprisingly quiet. Fast runs and good times with friends. Many many runs later, cup of coffee in hand I can sit back and reflect on my weekend. What more can one say?

Just another day in paradise.

UAF in the Winter

Arctic Greetings~

Recently I have been asked about living in Alaska, especially during the winter time.

I just want to say that even though I love Alaskan summers, the winters here offer unique opportunities and beauty that is rare in other places.

When I am not studying or working, getting out in the winter time offers a variety of recreation. For example some of my favorite past times include ice climbing, going to glaciers, hiking, dog sledding, and just enjoying all the beautiful places. There are a variety of places to go within a days trip from campus. If you are new to winter time recreationOutdoor Adventures UAF offers guided trips through Outdoor Adventures. They have everything from camping, skiing,snowshoeing and much more throughout the year.

If you are really interested in winter time out door recreation, UAF even offers a variety of classes in outdoor recreation and leadership certification.

Probably, the place that my dogs and I visit most is Ester Dome, which offers a panoramic view of the Golden Heart city and the surrounding valley.

I understand being a busy college student, but it is important to take a break from the books. So if you don't have the time for a day trip UAF offers a variety of hiking and ski trails that take you through the beautiful boreal forest right here on campus.

Please remember when going out in the cold dress for the weather, carry enough water, and wear proper foot gear.

a reason I love UAF

Hey all,

After traveling over break coming back to Fairbanks was ... interesting. I was exited for my classes, I'm taking fun ones this semester, but the cold and dark was hard adjusting back to.

But today was one of those perfect Fairbanks days. It was warm enough to enjoy the outdoors and sunny enough to give you your daily dose of vitamin D. This actually made it kind of difficult to attend class.. but I was still really exited.

Tomorrow the office I work for on campus, LIVE, is having its first leadership lunch of the semester. It's going to be pretty interesting, our speaker is an expert on permafrost and will be talking about a recent trip to Antarctica!

Hopefully tomorrow will be this beautiful too!