By: Cynthia Lind, Executive Director
Aang! Summer is finally here, and we are spending our summer a little differently this year. It is all good as we work together to ensure that everyone is safe and healthy.
The Aleut Foundation realizes that the coronavirus has affected every aspect of our everyday lives. It kept us out of schools, away from loved ones, and canceled major events. For this year’s graduates, a celebration of everything you have worked hard for the last four years has been knocked down by a virus. Even though you may not be walking across a stage, your hard work and accomplishments still deserve to be celebrated. As you conclude this phase and prepare for the future, remember that you can always call our office for any assistance while you are going to school. We look forward to working with you!
Qaĝaasakuq! Qaĝaalakux! Qaĝaasakung! (Thank you!)
Inspiring
Sharon Guenther Lind and her brother, Robert Snigaroff, both earned their Doctorate Degrees from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and would have been the first brother/sister hooded together at UAF this May, but because of COVID-19 this was unable to happen. We congratulate Sharon and Robert for their accomplishment!
Hunter graduated with a BS in Computer Systems Engineering and a minor in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He has accepted a full-time position at Baird, the firm he has been participating in an Aleut Corporation Internship with for the past two years. He will be training outside of Alaska for 2 years but will return to the state as a licensed Financial Advisor. Congratulations Hunter!
“I want to say thank you to TAF and The Aleut Corporation for all they’ve done for me over the past 4 years. I am forever grateful for the opportunity they provided me to pursue a STEM degree.”
Jillian Bjornstand
Undergraduate Degree
Business Administration w/minor in Japanese Studies
Robert Daley
Graduate Degree
Humanities w/minor in Religion
Leslie Gerking
Undergraduate Degree
Infant and Child Mental Health
The Aleut Foundation is pleased to announce the following graduates who were scholarship recipients:
Beverly Woods, Graduate Degree – Business Administration
Colleen Dushkin, Undergraduate Degree – Business Administration and Management
Hunter Johnson, Undergraduate Degree – Computer Systems Engineering w/minor in Electrical Engineering
Isaiah Wales, Undergraduate Degree – Nursing
Jillian Bjornstad, Undergraduate Degree – Business Administration w/minor in Japanese Studies
Leslie Gerking, Undergraduate Degree – Early Care and Education
Madeline Snigaroff, Undergraduate Degree – Linguistics
Marche Meisler, Graduate Degree – Applied Technology
Michelle McGlashan, Undergraduate Degree – Business Administration
Robert Daley, Graduate Degree – Humanities w/minor in Religion
Robert Snigaroff, Doctorate Degree – Economic Sociology: Interdisciplinary**
Sarah Schroeder, Undergraduate Degree – Business Administration
Sharon Guenther Lind, Doctorate Degree – Indigenous Studies**
Summer Mack, Undergraduate Degree – Liberal Studies
Zianna Weston, Graduate Degree – Liberal Studies w/minor in Creative Nonfiction Writing
SPECIAL HONORS SCHOLARSHIPS
Lillie Hope-McGarvey Health Scholarship
Richard Griesbaum, Nursing – University of Portland
Andrew Gronholdt Arts Scholarship
Alexandra Robinson, Photography – Butte Comm College
Gabe Stepetin Business Scholarship
Sarah Schroeder, Business Administration – Fort Lewis College
Alice Petrivelli Business Leadership Scholarship
Desirae Mack, MBA Strategic Leadership – Alaska Pacific University
Elary Gromoff, Jr. Military Veteran Scholarship
John Curtis, Counseling Psychology – University of Alaska Southeast
We wish to acknowledge those students who made the President’s and Dean’s List:
President’s List
Alanna Kochuten – Marine Transportation – California State University Maritime Academy
Dean’s List
Abigail Rutledge – Biology / Spanish – Wheaton College
Arissa Roe – Elementary Education – Western Governors University
Aurora Duskin – Computer Science – Montana State University
Benjamin Raugust – Cognitive Science – University of California Davis
Brittany Gardner – Biological Sciences – University of Alaska Anchorage
Cade Austin – Computer Science / Leadership – University of Denver
Daniel Shellikoff – Liberal Studies – Alaska Pacific University
Danielle Merculief – Business Administration – Alaska Pacific University
Darin Robinson – Computer Science – Central Oregon Community College
Elizabeth Fouts – General Studies / Spanish – Harding University
Erica Oostra – Elementary Education & Special Education – Grand Canyon University
Erica Parker – Chemistry – California State University of Sacramento
Foster Olson – Biomedical Engineering – Grand Canyon University
Ginger Miles – Master of Arts Management – Wayland Baptist University
Grace Perron – Nursing – Fayetteville Technical Community College
Jeanie Campbell – Occupational Safety & Health – Columbia Southern University
Jeffery Kauffman – Finance – Northern Arizona University
Jeremy Beers – Information Technology – Green River College
Jillian Bjornstad – Business Administration / Japanese Studies – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jordan Boyce – Nursing – Santa Rosa Junior College
Kallin Spiller – Psychology – Columbia University
Kelly Mullins – Social Work – University of Alaska Anchorage
Kyrie Dyakanoff – Nursing – Northern Arizona University
Lauren Denham – Political Science / Native American Studies – Texas Christian University
LaVonna Thomas – Social Work – Misericordia University
Leann Mack – Business Administration – Alaska Pacific University
Madeline Snigaroff – Linguistics – Stanford University
Mia McWilliams – Business Administration / Accounting – California State University East Bay
Michael Lapinskas – Undeclared – Chemeketa Comm College
Natalia Dyakanoff – Business Administration – University of Alaska Southeast
Nicole Pesina – Medical Assistant – Columbia Basin College
Olivia Olson – Political Science / Cultural Studies – Western Washington University
Oxcenia O’Domin – Business Administration – Alaska Pacific University
Payten Stroud – Undeclared – University of Alaska Southeast
Pearl Foster – Business Management & Marketing – University of Alaska Anchorage
Robert Snigaroff – Economics – Columbia University
Samantha Torres-Taylor – English – University of San Diego
Shannel Newman – Communications – Hawaii Pacific University
Tanna Lewis – Business Administration – University of Alaska Southeast
Tyler McIntire – Kinesiology – Fort Lewis College
Graduate Students
Alexandra Werba – Health Services Administration – Alaska Pacific University
Alexis E. Merculief – Human Development & Family Studies – Oregon State University
Beverly Woods – Business Administration – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Bianka Takaoka – Doctor of Philosophy – Cornell University
Brianna Gray – Doctor of Industrial Organizational Psychology / Social Diversity Change – Walden University
Christina Newhall – Linguistics / Anthropology – University of Arizona
Clinton Nelson – Business Administration – Alaska Pacific University
Cody Williams – Environmental Science – Washington State University
Haliehana Stepetin – Doctorate of Native American & Performance Studies – University of California Davis
Jordan Jenckes – Geology – University of Alaska Anchorage
Jourdan Coliman – Education – St. Scholastica
Lisa Dirks – Information Science – University of Washington
Melissa Scott – Doctor of Medicine – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Morgan Bland – Microbiology – Colorado State University
Myron Melovidov, Jr. – Mathematics – Western Governors University
Rachel Lekanoff – Oceanography – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Robert Daley – Humanities/Religion – Dominican University of California
Samantha Sheehan – Early Childhood & Special Education – Boise State University
Silvia Leon-Guerrero – MBA Strategic Leadership – Alaska Pacific University
Tiera Schroeder – Clinical-Community Psychology – University of Alaska Anchorage
Zena Robert – Geology – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Zianna Weston – Liberal Studies – Arizona State University
The Aleut Foundation is pleased to announce the following recipients of the 2020 Summer Scholarships:
Honors
Erin Anderson – Sustainability Biology – Western Oregon University
Jeanie Campbell – Occupational Safety & Health – Columbia Southern University
Jade Kochuten – Nursing – Trinity Western University
Lillian Mandregan Burroughs – Nursing Science – University of Alaska Anchorage
Victoria Marquez – Nursing Science – Alaska Native Studies – University of Alaska Anchorage
Ashley Merculief – Nursing Science – University of Alaska Anchorage
Victoria Phillips – Nursing – Palomar College
Exceptional
Joshua Beers – Ultrasound – Bellevue College
Jordan Betschart – Economics / Computer Information Technology – University of Oregon
Carolynne Holbrook – Biochemistry / German – Western Washington University
Kayla Marcoulier – Nursing – Grand Canyon University
Amanda McConnell – Psychology – Arizona State University
Danielle Smith – Radiology – Pima Medical Institute
Elexa Yee – Biochemistry – University of California Santa Barbara
Achievement
Ellie Barker – Psychology / Social Work – Fort Lewis College
Jeremy Beers – Information Technology – Networking & Security – Green River College
Sarah Dushkin – Business Administration – University of Alaska Anchorage
Joyce Jay Merculief-Barker – Healthcare Administration – California Coast University
Carol Pletnikoff – Religious Studies / Business Entrepreneurship – Oregon State University
Graduate
Brooke Babin – Nurse Practitioner – Clarkson College
Denise Berkeley-Salter – Business Administration / Sustainable Studies – Amberton University
Stefani Erickon – English Language Learning – Western Governors University
Brianna Gray – PhD – Industrial Organizational Psychology / Social & Diversity Change – Walden University
Jonathan Johannsen – Elementary Education – Pacific University
Desirae Mack – Business Administration – Alaska Pacific University
Bobbie McNeley – Juris Doctorate Law – Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Myron Merculief, Jr. – Mathematics – Western Governors University
Clinton Nelson – Business Administration – Alaska Pacific University
Christina Newhall – Linguistics & Anthropology / Native American Languages – University of Arizona
Samantha Sheehan – Early Childhood & Special Education – Boise State University
Working
Brandy Giordano- Juris Doctorate Law – Lincoln Law School of Sacramento
Part-Time
Ginger Bear – General Program, Humanities – University of Alaska Southeast
Kyra Dushkin – Nursing – Mohave Community College
Natalia Dyakanoff – Business Administration w/ Emphasis in Accounting – University of Alaska Southeast
Alexander Eagle – Liberal Studies – San Diego State University
Aimee Eagle – Liberal Studies – California Polytechnic State University
Sarah Etheridge – Dietetics – University of Alaska Anchorage
Jenna Fostyk – Nursing – Herzing University
Brittany Gardner – Biological Sciences – University of Alaska Anchorage
Delores Gregory – Entrepreneurship & Innovation – Alaska Pacific University
Katrina Gundersen – Human Resources – University of Alaska Southeast
Carson Harris – Chemical Engineering – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Douglas Krukoff – Neuroscience – Columbia University
Jake LaConte – Communications / Psychology – St. Charles Community College
Laurence Merculief – Electrical Engineering – University of Alaska Anchorage
Ginger Miles – Management – Wayland Baptist University
Sarah Stepetin – Cell & Molecular Biology – West Chester University
LaVonna Thomas – Social Work – Misericordia UniversityMonica Yatchmeneff – Undeclared – University of Alaska Southeast
Graduates:
Please send us your graduate date information so we can be sure to recognize your accomplishment in the next newsletter.
High School Students
The Aleut Foundation provides an Advanced College Credit Scholarship for those students taking college courses while in high school.
Vocational and Career Development Students: There is no deadline for vocational or career development scholarships.
College Scholarships: The deadline for the 2020-2021 educational scholarships is Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
2020 AFN Travel Scholarships
Although we are unsure if AFN will be held this year or not because of COVID-19, The Aleut Foundation is tentatively offering travel scholarships to attend the AFN Convention that is being held October 12-17, 2020 in Anchorage. These requests are due August 31, 2020.
For more information about any of these programs, please contact The Aleut Foundation:
Phone: 907-646-1929
Toll Free: 800-232-4882 and asked to be transferred to The Aleut Foundation
Email: taf@thealeutfoundation.org
Annual Aleut Picnic Cancelled
During this time of uncertainty that we are currently experiencing with the global COVID-19 pandemic, The Aleut Foundation Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel the Annual Aleut Picnic this summer. This was not an easy decision, but the safety and health of our elders, shareholders, descendants, and families is a high priority for The Aleut Foundation. We will all get through this together!
Website: http://www.thealeutfoundation.org