Alumni News!
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April 3, 2008: A Success Story - An Interview with Anastasia Connolly, from SitNews of Ketchikan By Dawn Rauwolf
Kayaking along our local coast and bicycling through our rainforest both take plenty of physical fortitude. Anastasia Connolly has that strength. She has guided tourists on wilderness excursions, using her muscles to propel herself and to lead the group in experiencing our unmatchable region.
Connolly's adventures have not been limited to this Revillagigedo Rock; she was raised in Homer and has spent summers working in Craig. Though Connolly's strong legs and toned arms are impressive, it is her intellectual strength that has sustained the most resistance and growth in the past few years. Connolly's educational journey has been rigorous, which is just the right level of challenge for her. Currently, Connolly is working for Dr. Anthes as a medical assistant and anticipates entering nursing school at Oregon School of Health Sciences in Portland, Oregon.
Connolly says, "I wound up in Ketchikan after traveling abroad and I was talked into taking classes here." That fall she enrolled at our University of Alaska Southeast - Ketchikan with a full load of classes in her freshman year. At that time, Connolly had a vague idea about future career goals, but was certain she preferred working with people. She thought the nursing field would be a smart choice because she had heard about the national shortage of quality nurses. That semester, Connolly kept her mind busy and her body sturdy by walking up Jefferson St. to the Paul Building every day. Although her ultimate goals were indefinite, Connolly was motivated to triumph in her new challenge.
The next year, Connolly completed classes for the Certified Nursing Assistant program at the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan. She went to work at Ketchikan General Hospital soon after and learned that nursing was more than just a wise career choice; it was also a job she enjoyed. Connolly says, "I realized that I could make a difference in people's lives. My motivations changed. It was clear to me that nursing was truly my passion."
That winter, Connolly was also blessed with the news of her firstborn baby's approaching birth. She continued taking classes at UAS-Ketchikan and working at KGH all through her pregnancy. After her son, Killian, was born, she continued taking distance classes part-time. Connolly remembers, "I felt so focused before my son was born, and then, I felt like I lost my mojo. I had to switch gears. I decided to take advantage of the distance courses, so that I could be home with Killian. I thought it would be easy, studying at home. Turns out, I was up all night; sometimes, I would stay up until 4:00 in the morning. I just didn't want to make having a baby slow me down." Connolly was presented with a harsh challenge, and true to her unassuming yet resilient nature, she found the strength to meet it.
Last May, Connolly graduated magna cum laude with her Associate of Arts degree from the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan. Connolly credits the local campus as being "very friendly and encouraging. I realized that I enjoyed my experience here. I would recommend it because it is affordable, and there are not too many distractions. I was able to try out many types of classes. The personal attention the professors are able to give is worth a lot. They have set me on my path for what I want to do." Connolly has worked harder than most to accomplish her goals. Her diligence was recognized by her peers and by the UAS-Ketchikan faculty; she was selected to be the student speaker at her graduation ceremony.
Connolly plans to earn her Bachelor's degree in nursing, and then to become a Nurse Anesthetist. She says, "Being a mom makes you more human, more sensitive." Her nursing skills can only improve with those nurturing qualities in her first aid kit. Being a mom gives Connolly another excellent reason to pursue her dreams; Killian is both her inspiration and her motivation. She has experienced the mighty yet benevolent power of the Pacific Ocean while paddling her kayak; she has nurtured a new life into our community; she will undoubtedly accomplish her career goals. Original article - click here.
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March 27, 2008: UAS Presents at National Conference, from SitNews of Ketchikan
University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan Student Services Manager Gail Klein, and Student Services Coordinator Chris Hoyt were invited to deliver a presentation at the 2008 National Association for Developmental Education (NADE) conference, Feb 27th to March 1st, in Boston, Massachusetts. This presentation, "Building a Student Retention Plan Around a College Success Course" discussed how UAS Ketchikan improved retention by implementing a comprehensive three credit "Critical College Success Skills" course, eventually combined into a block with developmental math and developmental English. The classes were tied together with cross-referenced syllabi, creating a Learning Community for the enrolled students. This proved to be a successful strategy for assisting under-prepared students. The presenters shared with colleagues the methods used in implementing and evaluating current programs.
The National Association for Developmental Education (NADE) is an organization that helps learners at all levels of preparedness realize their full academic potential by working to improve the theory and practice of developmental education, which includes all forms of learning assistance; personal, academic, and career counseling; academic advisement; and coursework. It is sensitive and responsive to individual differences and special needs among learners.
The national conference was attended by over 2,000 college faculty, student services professionals and others who work directly with students to improve retention and help students succeed at college.
Gail Klein has worked at UAS Ketchikan since 1996. She is the Student Services Manager and oversees student services. Chris Hoyt has worked at UAS Ketchikan since 2004 and has led the outreach effort for the Alaska Native and Rural Alaska Title III grant funded by the US Department of Education.
The University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan is a branch campus of the University of Alaska Southeast. The campus offers a wide variety of educational courses and programs to Ketchikan and the surrounding communities throughout the year. Many course offerings are available both locally and through distance avenues including web-based and audio conferences. Through these offerings, students can achieve certificate, associate, bachelor and master degrees.
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March 12, 2008: Palin Appoints Morley to Council, from the Juneau Empire
Juneau resident Lisa Morley has been appointed to the Statewide Independent Living Council by Gov. Sarah Palin.
Morley is a social services program coordinator for the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services in the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. She also worked as an associate coordinator of home and community-based grants for the division.
Morley has a bachelor's degree from the University of Alaska Southeast and was appointed to a seat reserved for a state liaison from the division to the council.Click here for the original story.
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JANUARY 18, 2008: 2008 Award of Top 10 Romantic Bed and Breakfasts and Country Inns in the nation includes Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa in Juneau, Alaska
Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa of Juneau, Alaska is among just 10 inns in the U.S. selected as a 2008 Top 10 Most Romantic Inns by American Historic Inns, Inc., publisher of more than 2.7 million bed & breakfast guidebooks, and companion Web site iLoveInns.com.
The Top 10 Romantic Inns were selected from across the continent for their high standards and attributes such as their scenic settings, interior beauty, sense of place, hospitality and overall romantic mystique. These, along with Pearson’s Pond’s unique offerings of glacier adventure weddings, romantic escapes, and honeymoon packages also added to their selection for the prestigious award.
The staff at iloveinns.com spends countless hours with guests, travel writers, industry experts, innkeepers and on the road deciding which of more than 19,000 inns contribute most to a romantic experience guests will long remember. According to AHI President Deborah Sakach, “We believe our efforts have produced a wonderfully unique selection of the country's best inns that will give each guest the opportunity to experience the ultimate in romantic travel. All the inns we’ve selected specialize in the gift of romance for you and the love of your life.”
For more information on Pearson’s Pond and other 2008 Top 10 Most Romantic Inns, visit http://www.iloveinns.com/2008romanticinns.htm for full descriptions and photos. Many of this year's winners are included in America’s best selling bed & breakfast book: Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns, 19th edition, available online at www.iLoveInns.com. Each book includes a Free Night certificate that allows travelers to Buy-One-Night-Get-the-Second-Night Free, with an average savings of $142. This is great for travel writers and bargain hunters during off-peak times.
In Juneau, this year’s winner offers Valentine Day specials that include sparkling beverage, “Pearson’s Pond” champagne flutes to commemorate the special night, gourmet chocolates, fresh strawberries, rose petals, and continental breakfast in a canopy bed by the fireplace. Package rates start at $269; available February 8th through February 25th, 2008.
Guestrooms at Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa, include fireplaces, 4 poster bed, deck to outdoor hot tubs, robes, water views and some with oversized 2 person jetted tubs and skylights at Alaska’s only AAA Four Diamond Award property. Phone: 907-789-3772, Web: www.pearsonspond.com
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September 28, 2007: Alum Clancy DeSmet recently sent in an email update on what he has been up to since his time at UAS. Clancy received a BLA in Social Science-History from the University of Alaska Southeast. At UAS, he served as Vice President of the student body and as a teaching assistant in History and Geography. Clancy states, “My experience at UAS was invaluable."
Following graduation from UAS, Clancy served as a Project Review Coordinator for the Alaska Office of the Governor’s Coastal Management Program. In 2001, he ran for the Juneau City Council and was narrowly defeated. In 2003, he received a Master of Studies in Environmental Law (MSEL) degree from Vermont Law School (VLS). At VLS, he served two terms as Student Trustee, one term as an SBA Senator, and was elected to be President of the alumni class. During law school, Clancy was an Appeals Officer in the Office of Administrative Appeals with NOAA Fisheries, and also worked as a legal intern for the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. Following graduation from VLS, Clancy worked as an Admissions Recruiter for Vermont Law School and is currently the Planning & Zoning Administrator for the City of Montpelier. In 2006 Clancy earned his Juris Doctor (JD) from VLS.
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July 13, 2007: Mrs. from Juneau wins Miss Congeniality - Alaska-America pageant bestows honor on local mother, state worker
A few months ago, Juneau state worker Lola Savatgy received an e-mail from a Mrs. Alaska-America pageant official who had seen her photo. Savatgy thought it was a joke. First of all, the picture was old and she hadn't been on a stage in years. Second, she'd never heard of Mrs. Alaska-America, one of three pageants in the state for married women.
"I told her no thanks. I'm not interested," Savatgy said. "I had just moved into my new house. I have a 3-year-old boy. I just got a new job. My husband is taking command (in the U.S. Coast Guard).
"But she was a very persistent pageant lady, and I'm glad that she was."
Savatgy, 37, eventually decided to represent Juneau in the 2007 Mrs. Alaska-America Pageant, held July 5 at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. She was the first Juneau contestant in the 30-year history of the pageant.
The appropriately-named Happy Glorioso, of Eagle River, won the crown. Savatgy didn't place but was named "Miss Congeniality." Sitka contestant K.C. Merrill finished in the top five.
The 18 contestants included a bush pilot, a bodybuilder, a fine arts director, a stay-at-home mom, an engineer and an Army wife. The youngest was 22. The oldest was a 63-year-old grandmother.
Three had lost more than 100 pounds to compete. One, from a village in the Bush, had never worn makeup before, had five kids and had known her husband since they were both 3.
"It was just the coolest bunch of women," Savatgy said. "These are some beautiful women. I'm not kidding you."
"People were saying, 'You be careful. Those pageant people are killers. They'll knock you down to grab the crown,'" she said. "But everyone was just really nice."
Savatgy isn't shy about public speaking.
An ex-showgirl, she has extensive experience in theater and performing. She began starring in small dance shows when she was 17 and eventually joined a touring version of the Ice Capades.
"Of course I wanted the tiara," Savatgy said. "I wanted the crown. It's every girl's dream.
"I wanted to get back on stage and see if I could still do it," she said. "I went here because I missed the spotlight a little bit. It's in my blood. That's what I was hoping to get out of it."
Savatgy and her husband, David, moved back to Juneau in April. She works as a research analyst for the child care program of the state division of public assistance. He's a commander in the U.S. Coast Guard.
They lived here from 2000 to 2003, when she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Alaska Southeast.
In between Juneau stints, they lived in Washington, D.C., where she worked as an analyst at the Pentagon.
The Savatgys attended the same high school in California and eventually reunited. Next month will mark their 14th anniversary.
"Although we're from a very large city in California, we have a 3-year-old son born in Virginia and we wanted to raise him (in Juneau)," Savatgy said. "We've never felt like any place was home like Alaska. I have friends here that welcomed me right back as if I had only been gone a day."
Most contestants at the pageant were from Eagle River, Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. It costs $450 to enter, and in the case of Savatgy, much more to fly north, stay in a hotel and rent a car.
Savatgy raised most of her $2,400 bill with the help of friends, family and Juneau businesses.
"At one point I said, 'I can't do it. My son is potty training. This is not happening,'" Savatgy said. "My husband was my No. 1 supporter. He said, 'You're beautiful and you need to do this.'"
All Mrs. Alaska-America contestants must be married a minimum of six months, be a U.S. citizen, an Alaska resident and at least 18.
Alaska has pageants for Mrs. Alaska-America, Mrs. Alaska-United States and Mrs. Alaska-International. They're three separate organizations. You can enter all three of them, but you can't hold all three titles.
Michelle Martin, the 2007 Mrs. Alaska-America, entered the pageant three times before she finally won. During her reign, Martin raised roughly $1 million for cancer research.
"Mrs. America is the original married lady pageant that's been around for years," Alaska-America pageant director Rita Corwin said. "Mrs. United States is the copycat program that a lady came up with 20 years ago.
"In Alaska, there is no pageant other than Mrs. Alaska-America that's an on-stage sanctioned program by the state," she said.
"I don't know the difference between the three, but I know I'm done," Savatgy said. "My feet hurt from standing 16 to 24 hours in high heels.
"I told them I'll come back up there and do the choreography and help, but it almost killed me to hold still on stage," she said.
The pageant began with a grueling one-on-one interview with each of five judges. The judges asked about the oil pipeline services company VECO, the Pebble Mine, the state flower, the state bird, domestic violence, the Alaska senators in the U.S. Congress, and of course, about each contestant's platform.
Savatgy's platform was child care, especially its effect on single mothers.
"Some of the questions were completely thought-provoking, and I was glad that I've loved and studied Alaska as much as I have," Savatgy said. "When you think of pageants, you think of three little kids prancing around the stage. Who would have guessed?"
After the interviews, the 18 contestants performed an opening number in cocktail dresses. Savatgy bought hers at Foxfire.
They introduced themselves, then transitioned to the sportswear category. Savatgy wore running gear from Foggy Mountain Shop.
Glorioso, the eventual champ, came out in a walking suit while pushing a baby carriage. The bodybuilder emerged dressed in hip waders and carrying a fishing pole.
The final segment was evening wear.
"I've said it before: They were judging me by my inner beauty," Savatgy said. "Not just the fact that I could put eyelashes on and curl my hair the right way."
---original article printed in the 07/13/2007 edition of the Juneau Empire, written by Korry Keeker
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May 5, 2007: UAS Alum Laraine Derr has opened Chez Alaska Cooking School in Juneau, located in the Nugget Mall Annex. Stepping inside customers enjoy open space, warm decorating, bright lighting and modern kitchen equipment. 
There are seats to watch demonstrations and work areas for hands-on classes. Through the summer, Chez Alaska has a contract with Princess Tours and is participating in the Taste of Juneau tour. The cooking school offers 16 Taste of Juneau classes per week through the summer, and one hands-on class every day. It is open seven days a week. Hands-on classes are three or more hours long and interactive, fitting up to 20 students. Each student will have their own work space to cook dishes, and eat what they prepare. Since 1983 Laraine Derr has been catering receptions. She has certification in food and beverage management and in 1984 completed a master's degree in business administration at UAS. For more information, contact Chez Alaska Cooking School at 790-2439 or go online to http://www.chezalaska.com/.
(Note: Alumni & Friends will be hosting an event at Chez Alaska on November 3 --- Holiday Entertaining 101….. keep an eye on your mailbox!)
--- portions excerpted from the 05/09/07 article “Juneau cooking school opens” by Abby LaForce for the Capital City Weekly
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April 3, 2007: "I'm sure you all remember Vika Savalei, who graduated from UAS in 2000 with a dual major in social science and mathematics. 
Last Thursday she successfully defended her PhD dissertation in psychometrics at UCLA and is now Dr. Savalei! She has accepted a position as a psychomatrician in the psychology department at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and will begin this fall. I'm very proud of her as I'm sure you all are as well."
--- Virginia Mulle, Ph.D., Associate Dean, UAS School of Arts and Sciences, Associate Professor, Sociology
