September 24th saw us to the end of a fantastic 10-day EXCEL 12 session! E XCEL 12 is  individualized to meet each student's needs and wants, focusing on their next steps following high school. This might be a bit of a long article, but please read it all to see what your pupils accomplished. They are an amazing group of very focused, determined students.

Marisa Abarca has her sights set on AVTEC's culinary arts program. She has applied, taken her TABE (AVTEC's entrance exam), and is currently researching scholarships to cover her expenses. She needs to fill out her FAFSA in February as well as send a copy of her transcripts and photo ID to AVTEC. 

Summer Stewart has already graduated. Her post-secondary wishes are taking her to AVTEC to the Business Administration program. She has completed her application, taken her TABE, and started filling out the KSD scholarship. She wants to attend starting winter semester and has already completed her FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid0 and sent it to AVTEC. Her application will be complete after she sends in her photo ID and official transcripts to AVTEC’s admissions office.

Reshelle Alexi wants to attend Kenai Peninsula College or Job Corps. She completed her application for both and has a phone interview scheduled with Job Corps. She took her ACCUPLACER (placement exam) for KPC and started her goal essay for her scholarship packets. Should she decide to go to KPC, she needs to complete her FAFSA in February and ensure she has enough scholarship money together to cover the cost. Her next step is to apply for housing. 

Isaac Evan wants to either attend Job Corps or enlist in the Army. He met with an Army recruiter and took the practice ASVAB. If this is what he decides his direction is, he needs to practice the ASVAB (multiple-aptitude test) to make sure his score meets the minimum when he takes the qualifying exam. A recruiter will be reaching out to him directly. 

Carly Kelila wants to enlist in the Navy. He met with a recruiter and took the practice ASVAB. He scored well on his practice test and will  continue to study. A Navy recruiter will be reaching out to him to schedule a time to take another practice test back home, and then he will fly to Anchorage to take his qualifying ASVAB.  

Samuel Mellick is extremely interested in Kenai Peninsula College and completed an application for their paramedic program. He is also very intrigued with the Navy and met with a recruiter. He took his practice ASVAB and scored extremely well. He will take another practice exam and a Navy recruiter to arrange for him to fly to Anchorage for the qualifying exam. If he decides to go to KPC he needs to complete his FAFSA in February, apply for housing, and complete scholarship applications to cover the costs.

Linda Nickoli wants study welding at Kenai Peninsula College. She completed her application and has taken her ACCUPLACER. Her goal essay for her scholarships is in the works and requested two letters of recommendation. Looking towards financial aid, she needs to schedule and take her ACT this year to fill requirements of the Alaska Performance Scholarship. She needs to fill out her FAFSA and complete her housing application. 

John Hurd originally said he was interested in engineering at UAA, but subsequently decided he did not have the math skills necessary and has chosen to go into criminal justice. He has applied to UAF and has also taken his ACCUPLACER. He completed his goal essay for his scholarship applications and received his two letters of recommendation. Moving forward, John needs fill out the housing application, and his FAFSA. He also needs to take his ACT as a requirement of the Alaska Performance Scholarship.

Kerri Kelly is very interested in either Kenai Peninsula College or enlisting in the Navy. She has completed her KPC application for the paramedic program and has completed her ACCUPLACER. She needs to complete her FAFSA and fill out her housing application. To fulfill the requirements of the Alaska Performance Scholarship, she still needs to take the ACT. She also visited with a Navy recruiter and took her practice ASVAB.  The recruiter will contact her directly to arrange for her qualifying ASVAB.

Tamar Theurer is interested in going to UAF for either fish biology or communications. She has completed her UAF application and had previously taken her ACCUPLACER. She started her goal essay and received two letters of recommendation for her scholarship applications. She was also exploring some different opportunities outside of Alaska she may want to pursue. She needs to fill out her FAFSA in February and she needs to ensure her ACT scores qualify her for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Next on her checklist is to fill out a housing application for UAF to comply with the UA Scholars award.

Tristan Joseph has applied to Job Corps and AVTEC and wants to study culinary arts. He has scheduled his phone interview with Job Corps, and completed his application to AVTEC as well as complete his TABE. If he decides to go to AVTEC he needs to submit a copy of his transcripts and photo ID. To prepare for scholarship applications, Tristan needs to complete a goal essay, request two letter of recommendation, and complete his FAFSA. He is preparing for the WorkKeys exam as a requirement for the Alaska Performance Scholarship.

Vivian Hunt completed a UAA application and is wanting to study nursing. She took her ACCUPLACER and needs to fill out her FAFSA and housing application. She is preparing to take the ACT to qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. She has requested two letters of recommendation, will soon complete her goal essay for her scholarship applications. She may want to reach out to the Retention of Rural Alaskan Natives in Nursing program at UAA for more guidance to pursue nursing.

Nina Meyers is interested in going to Alaska Christian College (ACC) this coming year. She wants to pursue process technology. ACC has a partnership with Kenai Peninsula College which will allow her to attend ACC, but take classes at KPC. She has completed her ACC application as well as her ACCUPLACER. Her goal essay has been started and she has requested her two letters of recommendation for scholarship applications. She needs to complete her FAFSA in February, and take her ACT (American College Testing, college readiness assessment) as a requirement of the Alaska Performance Scholarship. ACC will be helping her along the way.

Raeanne Brinkman really wants to go to college outside of Alaska. She completed an application to a school in Washington State, but is also interested in Kenai Peninsula College. She is currently investigating costs and will make a decision best for her. She took her ACCUPLACER should she decide to go to KPC. If she decides to go out of state, she needs to make sure she qualifies for the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program which will reduce tuition rates. She needs to complete her FAFSA and apply for housing. She will take the ACT as part of the requirements of the Alaska Performance Scholarship, should her decisions take her to KPC.

Georgeann Pitka completed her UAA application and her ACCUPLACER. She started her goal essay and has requested her two letters of recommendation for her scholarship applications. FAFSA completion is on her calendar for February, and will fill out her housing application. To qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship, she will be taking the ACT.

Basil Changsak wants to become a carpenter. He researched Job Corps' and AVTEC's carpentry programs and chose AVTEC. He completed his application and also took his TABE. He needs to have his transcripts sent to AVTEC as well as a copy of his photo ID to complete his application. February brings FAFSA application completion. For scholarship applications, he will write a goal essay and ask for two letters of recommendation. As part of the requirements of the Alaska Performance Scholarship, he needs to schedule and take the WorkKeys exam. 

Denae Ulak is interested in going to Alaska Christian College and has completed her application. Through the ACC/KPC partnership, Denae intends to take nursing classes at KPC. She has already completed her ACCUPLACER, and as a requirement for scholarships, she has completed her goal essay and requested two letters of recommendation. She will need to complete her FAFSA and will take the ACT as a requirement of the Alaska Performance Scholarship. 

Corinne Gump completed her UAA application and took her ACCUPLACER. She has started her goal essay and has already reached out for two letters of recommendation for her scholarship applications. As a requirement of the Alaska Performance Scholarship, she will take the ACT. She needs to complete her FAFSA in February and complete a housing application. 

Collectively, the students attended various post-secondary tours, filled out applications and investigated scholarship opportunities. The activities included in EXCEL 12 encourages students to step outside of their comfort zones and teaches them to effectively communicate with adults and peers in business environments. Below are some of the highlights of the Lower Yukon School District students:

• Completed a healthy lifestyles lesson, how eat a balanced diet once they are living on their own 
• Students shopped for food for the session and cooked all of their own meals and planned all of their own leisure activities
• Found and applied for an advertised job in Anchorage for which they were qualify, created a resume and cover letter, and interviewed in a mock interview at either Calista Corporation, TKC, or Donlin Gold
• Campus tours at University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Job Corps, AVTEC, Kenai Peninsula College, and Alaska Christian College 
  
• Filled out budgeting sheet for post-secondary options, to understand the cost and amount of scholarship money they need to find
• Met with Army and Navy recruiters to find out what they had to offer 
  
• Completed real-life budgeting activity based on the job for which they interviewed, a place to live, and an affordable car
• Attended an Alaska USA bank presentation and opened either a checking or savings account
  
• Received Alaska State Drivers Permits 
  

Please contact Christa Jones if you have any questions about the accomplishments of the Lower Yukon School District Students.

The EXCEL 10 Session ended at the very end of October! It was a fantastic week and the students accomplished a great deal. EXCEL 10 is designed to give students a taste of different post-secondary options and get them thinking about their future career paths. The students are set up in a simulated corporation and run the session. Each student completes a job application, resume, and cover letter and interviews for a position within the corporation.

Some of the other activities included in EXCEL 10 push students to step outside of their comfort zones and teaches them to effectively communicate with adults and peers in business environments. Students visited the University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Job Corps, UAA Process Technology Program, and Anchorage Sand and Gravel. Below are some highlights of what your students have accomplished.

• Drug and Alcohol Prevention Training
• Job Application, Resume, Cover Letter, and Mock Interview
• Job tours at University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Job Corps, UAA Process Technology Program, and Anchorage Sand and Gravel
• Learned personal social skill such as: Hand shakes, eye contact when speaking, and active listening
• Created and updated a personal Learning Career Plan on AKCIS
• Successfully navigated public transportation in Anchorage
• Learned how to write a formal thank you letter and properly address envelopes
• Earned .5 high school credit in: Career Development Life Work Planning

Please let me know if you have any questions about the accomplishments of the students, I’m happy to answer any questions. I can be reached at cjones@kuspuk.org

Thank you for sending us such incredible students!

Our first EXCEL 9 Session of the school year was completed October 4th! It was a fatastic week and the students accomplished a great deal. EXCEL 9 is designed to introduce students to various career pathways though interactive field trips and job tours. The students practiced valuable employability skills such as time-management, teamwork, consensus building, and problem solving. Additionally, the students started their Personal Learning & Career Plan (PLCP) on the Alaska Career Information System  (AKCIS). Students completed a resume, cover letter, and job application as part of a mini career workshop and took a look into their work values and the importance of finding a career that fits them. Below are some highlights of what the Kuspuk School District students' sessio

• Completed Drug and Alcohol Prevention Training
• Went on job tours at AVTEC, UAA, and Calista Corporation
• Completed a service learning project where they made earrings for elders at the South Central Foundation
• Opened and created AKCIS profiles
• Learned how to fill out and complete a job application, as well as write a resume and cover letter
• Learned personal social skill such as hand shakes, eye contact when speaking, and active listening

Thank you again for sending such great students!

EXCEL  7  wrapped up Monday morning at the Joe Parent building in Aniak, and was a great success. We had 20 KSD students from Aniak (7), Kalskag (12) and Chuathbaluk (1). During the session, students worked on leadership traits that will make them stronger members of the community and school. They were introduced to motivation, resiliency, communication, integrity, teamwork, and adaptability. Each trait had a lesson attached to it, as well as an activity allowing them to practice the trait. They worked in teams of five to strengthen their skills and abilities within the traits. Students were also introduced to their personal learning styles, both input (Learning Styles Survey) and output (Compass Points). The Learning Styles Survey asks questions allowing the student to identify if they are auditory learners, verbal learners, or kinesthetic learners. Compass Points helps students recognize how they output information, North people jump right into activities with out planning or thinking of the consequences; East people ponder the big picture and generally plan backwards; South people are considerate of everyones thoughts and opinions; and West people are detailed individuals.