|
PITAS program affords students many opportunities
By Jenni Hotch-Hill
Whalesong Contributor
With the Preparing Indigenous
Teachersfor Alaska Schools (PITAS) program beginning its third year,
and the great news that funding for the next three years has been
approved, PITAS is starting this year on the right foot. The PITAS
program is filling the need for more Alaska Native teachers in the
rural schools.
The opening paragraph of the PITAS pamphlet states:
“Alaska is in need of indigenous teachers, qualified educators
who will remain in rural school districts. PITAS (Preparing Indigenous
Teachers for Alaska Schools) is a grant funded by the U.S. Department
of Education targeting this need.” PITAS helps fill the need
for more native teachers, and makes other important additions to
the University of Alaska Southeast. Not only does the program supply
scholarships for native students, soon to be teachers, but services
for both PITAS scholarship recipients and other students as well.
This is the second year that students have been receiving
scholarships from this grant. Last year there was a Community Advisor
position, a position that I had filled. This year PITAS has funded
more student positions: PITAS UAS Student Mentor Michelle Martin,
myself, PITAS UAS Student Assistant, and PITAS Community Advisor,
Chris Grinder.
This is Grinder’s first year as Community Advisor
and his second year attending UAS. “I think that it is really
good for native students to have the opportunity to attend higher
education. It’s a really positive aspect, very inspirational,”
he says.
Martin, one of the scholarship recipients and the Student
Mentor, says, “PITAS gives me the opportunity to experience
job related skills prior to my degree and helps me to become a successful
student. I’m also able to contribute the skills I learn onto
other students and provide a students perspective about my experience
as a PITAS/UAS student.” This is her second year as a scholarship
recipient and first year as a student employee. Michelle has also
just been elected to the Wooch Een council as a member.
Rhonda Hickok, the PITAS program co-coordinator, stresses
the importance of having student employees: “Having students
with strong background gives increased support and added insight
that experienced students and other students can rely on.”
For additional information on the PITAS program, pamphlets
are available in the Native and Rural Student Center in the Novatney
Building or email rhonda.hickok@uas.alaska.edu.
Back to issue
contents / Homepage
|
|
