ANSEP partners with Anchorage School District for the second Middle School Academy of 2017

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – The Alaska Native Science & Engineering program has once again partnered with the Anchorage School District to give local students the opportunity to participate in ANSEP’s 12-day, all-expense-paid Middle School Academy on the University of Alaska campus in Anchorage. This is the College’s second Academy for students with ASD this year, which means more than 100 new students from the Anchorage School District are now in the ANSEP pipeline and on track to reach their education and career goals.

Middle School Academies are residential STEM experiences designed to immerse students in applied learning opportunities related to career fields requiring a degree in science, technology, engineering and / or mathematics. Throughout the component, students live like university students at UAA while participating in activities ranging from building computers and bridges to earthquake engineering sessions led by industry professionals.

Student applications were assessed based on their academic records and essay responses, allowing them to gain experience by submitting an academic-type application as early as the fifth year. There are 54 participants in grades 5-7 who have been chosen to attend ANSEP’s June Middle School Academy, including:

• Abbott Loop Elementary School: Devin Ferdinand, Phillip Jamestown and Tajuan Zamir Jamestown
• Airport Heights Elementary School: Ayman Eltahir
• Alaska Native Cultural Charter School: Dyani Buege, Dejahn Hoover, Kylie Phillips and Stéphanie Tyson
• Bayshore Elementary School: Evelyn Engle and Kailei Muehlenkamp
• Begich College: Aaliyah Chickalusion and Anna Hyer
• Bowman Elementary School: Calvin Weber
• Chester Valley Elementary School: Andrew Jones and Mason Paulsen
• Chinook Elementary School: Dev’yonne Jackson and Achilles Amor Batt San Juan
• Clark College: Aliana Chopito, Shianna Bethany Leavitt and Samuel Williams
• College Gate Elementary School: Kendra Klotz
• Denali Montessori Elementary School: Dorothy Sakegak
• Eagle River Elementary School: Jason Kyle
• Huffman Elementary School: Ada Putman
• Inlet View Elementary School: Khayla Whitney
• Jane Mears College: Allison Evans and Stéphanie Tupuola
• Kincaid Elementary School: Kiya Frey, Quincy Gellerman and DeVon Smith
• Otis Lake Elementary School: Katrina Faith Halleran
• Muldoon Primary School: Marcus Sterling-Jerue and Nathan Yang Smith
• Nunaka Valley Primary School: Ellenia Domek
• Primary school with ocean view: Tayla Krueger, Zack Layman and Isabella Maillet
• Polaris K-12: Cedar Shuler
• Rogers Park Elementary School: Amelia DeSentis, Geoffrey Makoni and Elias Rodriguez
• Sand Lake Elementary School: Kiana Drexhage-Drussell
• Scenic Park Elementary School: Samuel Mecham
• Spring Hill Elementary School: Darwon Paul
• Susitna Primary School: Kahayla Green
• Taku Primary School: Savannah Shayen
• Turnagain Primary School: Kaden Abbott, Sorjen Paul and Dirk Warren
• Wendler College: Jared Weaver
• Willowcrest Primary School: Amylynn Okpeaha
• Winterberry Charter School: Hayden Carter

“ANSEP has proven that academic success can be linked to students’ early exposure to math and science, but this commitment must continue throughout their academic careers. ANSEP is proud to see this brilliant young group of Anchorage students enter the ANSEP pipeline through Middle School Academy this summer. Our goal is for these students to continue participating in the components of ANSEP, earning a college degree, and then having successful careers – we know that ANSEP can help Alaska students achieve all of this ” , said the founder and vice-rector of ANSEP, Dr Herb Ilisaurri Schroeder.

The ANSEP model begins at the college level and continues through high school and college undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. A key part of the program, the Middle School Academy inspires young students to get involved in science and engineering early in their educational careers and keeps them on track to participate in algebra 1 competitions before high school. Over 77 percent of Middle School Academy students complete Algebra 1 before entering high school. Nationally, that number is 26 percent. To learn more about ANSEP and its components, visit www.ANSEP.net.

About ANSEP

The Alaska Native Science & Engineering program, founded by Herb Ilisaurri Schroeder, Ph.D., is part of the University of Alaska system. The program strives to bring about a systemic change in the hiring models of Alaska Natives in the career fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by putting its students on the path to leadership. Beginning at the college level, the longitudinal model of ANSEP continues through high school and into undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, allowing students to succeed at rates far exceeding national numbers. In 2015, the organization launched ANSEP STEM Teacher to further address education issues in rural Alaska by supporting students pursuing STEM-related teaching certificates. ANSEP plans to place an ANSEP STEM teacher in every village in Alaska by 2025.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

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