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EXCEL Alaska
Quarterly Newsletter - July 2018 
Newsletter
The 2017-2018 fourth quarter is behind us. Look what EXCEL Alaska students have accomplished!
Post-secondary Prep and Credit Recovery
April 5-15
We are pleased to report the completion of the April 2018 Credit Recovery/College Placement Session. Our 10-day intensive ended April 15 th . All students accomplished a great deal, from completing needed high school credits in either Math or English, to preparing for post-secondary placement tests including the TABE, ACCUPLACER, ACT and WorkKeys. Each day of this session, students attended class for 7 hours per day, a total of 70 hours of instructional seat time. Hard work was not without reward! Not only did students work on projects such as Xandria's persuasive essay (left), but applications for colleges, scholarships, completion for math and language arts credits, all helping to raise graduation rates.

(Photo: Xandria Teve works on typing up her persuasive essay)
Cover Letters * Career Exploration * Pre-employment Skills
Did you know? - The state of Alaska offers both a merit-based scholarship, The Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) and a grant for need-based students, the Alaska Education Grant (AEG). For more information on either of these, please visit ACPE's financial aid page.
EXCEL Mini-bridging - KPC and ACC
April 9-13
EXCEL Alaska, in partnership Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) and Alaska Christian College (ACC), hosted a Mini-Bridging session at KPC April 9th-13th. For those of you unfamiliar with Mini-Bridging, the goal is to deepen and personalize the post-secondary education experience. Twenty-five students, from nine different rural Alaskan villages, attended the session. While at the session, students were afforded a taste of college dorm life and attended classes offered at each of the aforementioned institutions. Additionally, seniors had the opportunity to take the ALEKS Math placement exam and the ACCUPLACER English placement exam. One of the advantages of taking the tests early is to provide students with insight to where they would place were they to enter college at that moment. They can then plan future classes or remedial courses, and prepare more efficiently.

Each evening, both KPC and ACC, planned fun interactive activities for the students. On Tuesday, students participated in Minute-to-Win-It activities (derived from the NBC game show) with KPC. On Wednesday, students did a variety of different team-building activities with ACC, and Thursday was spent back at KPC for game night. 

Ultimately, nine students applied for admission to KPC and twenty-four students applied to ACC. Considering their level of interest, their confidence, and believing they have what it takes to further their education, we call this session a success!

(Photo: Ashley Fancyboy of Pilot Station shows off her T-shirt, a gift to each of the students who attended)
Placement Exams * Career Exploration * PLCPs
Did you know? - In the summer of 1964, University of Alaska President William Wood notified the Superintendent of the Kenai City School District, via telegram, the UA Board of Regents had unanimously approved the request to form Kenai Peninsula Community College.
Academic Decathlon & Career Fair
May 1-4
This past May, EXCEL held our annual Academic Decathlon & Career Fair in Aniak. We had representation from ten communities, including Aniak, Kalskag, Chuathbaluk, Crooked Creek, Stony River, Chevak, Juneau, Kotlik, Marshall, and Scammon Bay. Ninety-four students in all participated in the events. The individual competitions included Math, Science, Essay, Speech, Keyboarding, Social Studies, and Geography. These areas provide a great deal of growth for the students, such as speech, as most have never spoken in front of people they do not know. Team events were a little more geared toward the spectator side of the competitions and included Basketball, Volleyball, Popsicle Stick Catapult, Team Banner Design, and Marshmallow Toothpick Tower. Winning speech students were afforded the opportunity to give their speech at the awards ceremony. As you see, this was an action-packed, four-day session with something for everyone! The entire event culminated in a youth dance on Friday, the last night.

In addition to the competitive events, five different Health/Lifestyle workshops were available for students to attend. These workshops included:
  • Stress & Coping
  • Social Media
  • Barrier Crimes
  • Financial Literacy
  • Senior Transition Workshop

Wednesday, May 3rd, was the career fair. With tables set up around the gym, venders presented to students, answering questions form the sixteen teams of students. Each team rotated to every booth over a four-hour period. Our thanks to the vendors who attended. Their information, experience, and ability to answer students' questions was incredibly valuable.

  • Alaska Christian College - Jason Battiest
  • Alaska Commercial Company - Vince Winter
  • Alaska Communications - Quentin Caswell
  • Alaska Job Corps - D'Anne Hamilton
  • Alaska Pacific University - Erika Quade
  • Aniak B&B - Steven
  • Aniak Subregional Clinic - Conan Murat and Charlene Wolf
  • AVTEC - Patti Price
  • Calista Corporation - Brenda Pacaro and Rochelle Gall
  • Donlin Gold - Danny Twitchell
  • Knik Construction - Elliott Anderson
  • Northern Industrial Training - Patrick Rose
  • Ryan Air - Katrina Leary
  • The Kuskokwim Corporation - Megan Leary
  • UAA School of Nursing - Whitney Tisdale
  • UAA Transportation and Power - Kelly Smith
  • YKHC

(Photo - Paul Tony of Kotlik concentrates on building a marshmallow tower)
Healthy Lifestyles * Public Speaking * STEM
Did you know? - This 2017-2018 school year, EXCEL Alaska served approximately 500 students. (Unfortunately weather plagued our attendance in almost every session this spring, cutting numbers in the UAF Mini-Bridging, Intro to Aviation, and most of the foundational sessions.)
EXCEL Capstone with MAPTS
May 21 - June 4
Seven students from a several different western Alaska villages participated in the third annual MAPTS/EXCEL Alaska Capstone Project. Two weeks were spent at the Delta Mine Training Center, just outside of Delta Junction. MSHA training started the course. In addition to this training was an introductions to important job skills such as filling out time cards, showing up for "work" on time, packing a lunch for the work shift, and general camp living. They learned about doing their own laundry, managing time, and working with each other. They also experienced the world of paperwork, not only the amount of it, but the importance.

From there, students went on to learn how do do walk-arounds on vehicles, checking tires, checking fluid and oil levels, looking for anything different from the last time they viewed the equipment. They became so familiar with each piece of equipment, they could notice when something was amiss. With unique features of each, they mastered the challenges of operating a Caterpillar 769D haul truck, a Case 340B haul truck, a Caterpillar 259D skid steer, and a Caterpillar 5D dozer.

Graduation was on June 4th. Two of the students were whisked off to Fairbanks for their 2-week paid internship; one with Brice, Inc, one with Brice Civil Construction. The other five returned to Anchorage where they, too, had 2-week paid internships with Calista subsidiaries, including STG (crane), STG (welding), Brice Environmental, Granite Construction, and Yukon Equipment. Four of the seven have been offered summer employment through their host company.

They are well on their way to great careers! Our sincere thanks to the MAPTS team, the Brice family of companies, Yukon Equipment, Granite Construction, STG, and Calista for arranging the internships.

(photo: bottom row, L to R - Tyrel Gusty, Styles Walker, Ole Rivers. Top row, L to R - Steve Nash, David Hoeldt, Robert Wise, Paul Tony stand in front of a Caterpillar 769D)
Industry recognized certifications * Employability skills
Did you know? - A Caterpillar 769D haul truck can carry approximately 40 tons of dirt and rock!
Summer XL
June 3 - 30
Summer XL Bridging Camp is a 30-day relevant, hands-on intensive, learning camp. Each year we alternate campuses, this year held at Kenai Peninsula College and Alaska Christian College. Students stayed on the ACC campus for the month to experience dorm life and prepare for their future. Students chose to learn new skills in either Carpentry, Welding, Emergency Trauma Technician/Fire Fighting, Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) or Ground School training. High School. Each earned one-half high school credit in Career/Life Planning. Additionally, all graduates gain life skills in fitness and nutrition, find friends for life, gain skills they can use throughout their lives, and experiences they can take with them for whatever direction they choose to further their education or enter the workforce.

Below are highlights from 2018's Summer XL program:
 
CNA – 6 students
  • 6 UA College Credits
  • If student passes clinical exams, he/she will return to Anchorage in August to study and test for state CNA certificate
  • High School – 1 Credit in CTE – CNA Medical

Ground School – 5 students
  • FAA Ground Certificate – if student passes state test
  • Flight Physical
  • Student pilots license
  • Several hours of flight time logged
  • High School – 1 Credit in CTE – Aviation - Ground School
  • If student passes FAA Test and Flight Checks he/she can gain entrance into Pilot School

Welding – 17 students
  • 2 UA College Credits
  • High School – .5 Credit in CTE – Intro to Welding

ETT/Fire Fighting – 17 students
  • 3 UA College Credits
  • ETT Certificate
  • Fire Fighter One Certificate
  • High School – .5 Credit in CTE – ETT/Fire Fighting

Carpentry – 19 students
  • NCCER National Certificate
  • High School – .5 Credit in CTE – Intro to Carpentry

Permit Class – 40 students
  • Alaska Driver’s License Permit

Career Class – 25 students
  • Introduction of work-life

Graduate Class – 6 students
  • Personal assistance in enrolling in a post-secondary program

English – 4 students
  • High School .5 Credit – Linguistics Course (English)

Drivers School – 25 students
  • High School .5 Credit – Drivers Education
  • Drivers License

Outdoor Leadership – all students
  • Build leadership skills to apply throughout life
  • Introduction to marine biology
Credit Recovery * Foundational Sessions * Budget Planning
Did you know? - The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act was first authorized by the federal government in 1984. The Act aims to increase the quality of technical education within th eUnited States in order to help the economy.
Sessions in Process or Coming Soon!
A new year is ahead of us! The EXCEL Alaska staff preparing for the following:

  • George River Internshiop - July
  • Math/Science Expedition - August
  • 2018-19 Session Calendar - to be published by 7/13/2018

For applications, click on the highlighted events. If you know of any student(s) interested in applying for any of EXCEL's camps or sessions, please have them contact Tony at twilson@excelalaska.com
Look forward to more in the next EXCEL Newsletter!
In the meantime, keep up with us on Facebook.
EXCEL Staff
  • Carol Wilson - Executive Director
  • Billijo Mills - Deputy Director
  • Martha Peck - NYCP Industry & Community Outreach Manager
  • Joe Thornton - NYCP Post Secondary Outreach Manager
  • Christa Wilson - Lead Teacher
  • Tony Wilson -Lead Teacher
  • Dyllon Mills - Instructor
  • Jared Thorson - Instructor
  • Carlene Liskey - Instructor
  • Kattie Hoeldt - Instructor
  • Walter Lee - Facilitator
  • Konrad Koscik - Facilitator
  • Marquis Revels- Facilitator 
  • Tina Simpson - Cook
EXCEL Board of Directors:
  • Maver Carey, The Kuskokwim Corporation - Board Chair
  • Krystal Komkoff, Job Corps - Vice Chair
  • Colin Stewart, LKSD - Treasurer
  • Andrea Gusty, The Kuskokwim Corporation - Secretary
  • Evelyn Pensgard, BNC - Member at Large

Advisory Board Members:
  • Sam Brice, Brice Construction
  • Meg Day, Donlin Gold
  • Sue Hoeldt, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp
  • Brenda Pacarro, Calista Corporation
  • Patty Woody, YKSD
  • Yvonne Jackson, AVCP