Conference of Young Alaskans

To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Alaska’s Constitutional Convention and to foster awareness and appreciation of our state’s founders among the emerging leaders of Alaska, the University of Alaska will hold a four-day “Conference of Young Alaskans” on the UAF campus in January 2006. The conference will draw fifty-five high school and postsecondary students, as well as young people involved in trades, from across Alaska to consider five outstanding challenges facing Alaska and her people. Together, they will develop policy statements and proposed courses of action to be submitted to Alaska’s political leaders. This gathering will demonstrate the potential and possibility of Alaskans putting aside their differences to work together for the common good.

This is an excellent educational opportunity to share the real meaning of statehood with young Alaskans. This event will be a statewide vehicle to provide Alaskans with a better understanding of how the state came to be, and will help raise the level of public debate on many of the contentious issues Alaska faces today. In particular, it will recreate the atmosphere of unity and cooperation that marked the struggle for statehood.

The project is guided by a Steering Committee composed of nine committed individuals representing high school and university students and young business people. The Steering Committee began meeting in August 2005. The Steering Committee will be responsible for receiving delegate nominations and overseeing the successful implementation of the conference.

President Hamilton has selected the following individuals to serve as the Conference Steering Committee:

Walter DiSarro: Alaska Association of Student Governments President
Ben Shier: Former Vice President of USUAS-Juneau Student Government
Kortney Hinsala: USUAA Vice President
Ian-Michael Hebert: Former ASUAF Senator and Government Relations Director
Jessica Lewis: Kuskokwim Campus Student Senator
Meagan Gleason: Business Development Manager – Juneau Economic Development Council
Mark Graves: Account Executive – Lynden Transport
Patrick Race: Owner and Operator – Lucid Reverie Productions
Sarah Sherry: Program Officer – First Alaskans Institute

Among the university project participants are: The UAF Leadership Program, the Coalition of Student Leaders and the System Governance Office. Outside the UA System, the Alaska Humanities Forum has contracted with Information Insights to provide conference facilitation.

The conference will focus on addressing five key challenges facing Alaska and her people.

Providing quality education from kindergarten through university
Developing healthy communities and families
Creating leaders for the Alaska’s next generation
Responsible development of our natural resources
Reviving the Alaska dream and “Last Frontier” spirit

Future Activities: President Hamilton has created and charged the conference Steering Committee. The committee, composed of both university students and outside personnel, will immediately begin preparations for the conference and fundraising. Calls for nominations will begin in September 2005.

Delegates to the conference will be under the age of 25, Alaska high school or postsecondary students, or persons involved in a trade. While suggestions for delegates will be solicited from targeted groups and individuals, all nominations will be self-nominations. The Steering Committee will receive nominations and make the final selection of delegates for the conference.