001[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Praise the [Music] Lord. America. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Good afternoon and welcome to the Alaska Middle College School's graduation ceremony for the class of 2025. [Applause] Graduates and audience members, please stand for the national anthem. And it is customary for males to remove their headwear for the duration of the national anthem. Graduates, you may keep your caps on. at the twilight stars. [Music] We were so And the [Music] rockers through the night Spangled for the land of the [Music] free and the home above. [Applause] Thank you and please be seated. I would like to welcome to the stage AMCS student Denali Gamash to share the land acknowledgement. Hello class of 2025. My Nupiac name is Aanarak. My English name is Denali Gamash. We acknowledge that the Denina people
002are the Aboriginal owners of the land where we gather today. For thousands of years, the Denina people have been and continue to be stewards of this land. I pay my respects to the elders, past, present, and emerging. I recognize their connection to Alaska and their role in caring for and maintaining Alaska over thousands of years. May their strength and wisdom be with us today. ASD is committed to diversity and inclusion. And it is with honor and great respect that we recognize all indigenous people who live and learn in our community. Congrats, class of 2025. [Applause] Thank you, Denali. Good afternoon, soon to be AMCS graduates, students, school board president Carl Jacobs, Superintendent Dr. Jared Bryant, Provost Denise Runi, and friends and family. I'm Dr. Dr. Kern McKinley, the proud principal of the Alaska Middle College
003School, and I warmly welcome you to this long awaited and special graduation ceremony for the class of 2025. Before we begin, I want the graduates to listen carefully. Uh we're going to express our gratitude to your family and friends that are gathered here today to honor you. They are proud. So graduates, I'd like you to please stand, find your family out there, and wave and smile and show your joy and excitement. So go ahead, please stand and find your family. [Applause] [Music] All right. Thank you for that. Thank you for getting the energy up uh level up for the graduates. Now, let's pause and take this mo special moment in. Go on, look around and take a strong mental note of how special it is we're all here together as it is your final day
004of high school. But as I was talking to you before coming out here today, I asked you if you were ready to graduate, and it was overwhelmingly yes with excitement. And then I said, "Are you going to miss high school?" and you all nodded with big eyes and said yes. And I said, 'W wait a minute, you were really in high school for a very short period of time because through this program, you are college students. So, let's hear some excitement for that. [Applause] And I'm happy that we're all here to celebrate your accomplishments. We have 160 graduates that are graduating through this program. The class of 2025, you're unique. It's hard to believe you're the graduating class that missed out on face-toface face eighth grade instruction because you were home learning due to co
005and so you essentially went from what you knew in seventh grade the online learning blur that we remember or maybe not um to nth grade and began high school and then two years later you're making a choice to enter AMCS And for some of you, that may have happened in your senior year. And if you're an AMCS student, that decision was made long before that. So again, I want us to all celebrate your choice to enter the AMCS [Applause] program. So I know that you came to AMCS for very different and unique reasons. You wanted something that no other school in the Anchorage School District had to offer. You wanted a college immersion experience in the Anchorage School District on the wonderful UAA campus. You imagine how things could be different at a school that
006offers unique learning opportunities and emphasizes higher education preparation through university immersion. You were curious. You wanted a non-traditional challenge. You wanted something more than just an AP classes that lasted all year long. You wanted to explore your mental fitness and discover what you're made of. And your story and achievements today is a true testament of how a different path and hard work breeds success. Class of 2025, this graduation is particularly meaningful because we are celebrating the excellent accomplishments of what you've achieved. This graduating class has earned a combined total of more than 4,724 college credits with a college tuition savings of approximately $1.5 million. [Applause] We have nine students who qualified for an associates degree by earning 60 or more credits. Three students who were conferred who who were conferred their associate of arts degree
007from UAA on May 4th. One national merit finalist, three National Merit commended students, and one presidential scholar semi- finalist and five presidential scholar nominees. Let's hear it for all these [Applause] graduates. I'd also like to take a moment to highlight the partnership between the Culsac Career Academy and the Alaska Middle College led by CTE Director Conrad Woodhead of the Lower Yukon School District. There you are to my right. [Applause] KCA provides an opportunity for stu students from the villages in the lower Yukon school district to attend the Alaska Middle College and participate in the dual enrollment program. This year we have our sixth KCA AMCS graduate from the Cotlick School District and KCA graduating as a part of the class of 2025. [Applause] Next up, I would like to introduce Miss Denise Runi for her
008address. Provos, Mr. Denise Runi. Let's see. We need just a moment to find what I had sent in to say there. Okay, I'm ready. Well, good afternoon graduates. Um, I want to begin by saying what an what an honor it is to be allowed to speak with you today. I've seen many of you walking across the UAA campus and because of the nature of the program, I did not know necessarily that you were participants in Alaska Middle College School. To me, you were just another UAA student. Right. So, graduates, as we celebrate with you the completion of your high school diploma, we also celebrate the tremendous head start that you have made toward earning your postsecary degree. One student earned 74 credits and four of you earned 60 or more as principal McInley said, including
009several who have officially earned the associates degree through our on the way program. UAA has partnered with several school districts now to offer middle college programs for over a decade. And in that time, well over 1300 students have completed close to 40,000 college credits at no cost to themselves or their families. It's a remarkable achievement for you, you students, and it's a remarkable investment that your school district has made in you and your future. And speaking of your future, most of you are planning, in fact, to continue your post-secary journey. I understand that some of you are planning to attend UAA, and we are so excited and can't wait to see you back on campus in the fall. Some of you have accepted offers to attend outofstate colleges and we are so very happy for
010you. But we also want you to know that if your circumstances ever change, UAA would be thrilled to welcome you home to our community and finish what you started here. And some of you may still be deciding where to attend college or whether to attend college. And it's our hope that you'll continue to think about UAA as a possible school to attend. You already know that you can be successful here and you all of you have had a real impact on our community. You've participated in more than just classes, right? You've been a part of our campus. So, please consider joining us as you continue your journey in the fall. And never hesitate to reach out if there's anything that we can do whether you come to UAA or not. For all of you, continue
011to dream big. You have proven to yourselves and to your families that you can do so much more than what is normally expected. So keep stretching yourself. Try not to give into the temptation to pull back or to quit moving ahead. And no matter where your journey takes you, you will always be Seaw Wolves to us. Congratulations, class of 2025. [Applause] And now I have the honor of introducing your validictorian, Evangeline [Applause] Newkerk. Good afternoon everyone. To begin, I would like to thank all of the Alaska Middle College faculty and staff who have prepared, planned, and ultimately made this ceremony along with countless other events this year possible. To have such a supportive and hardworking staff is truly invaluable. I would also like to thank my parents for never ceasing to be my support system.
012You guys are the reason I am able to stand here today and I recognize and will always be thankful for that. Thank you. Thank you. Now, to the class of 2025, we made it. Each and every one of you should be extremely proud of the sacrifice and tremendous accomplishments it took to be here today. As middle college students, we took anything but the easy route by attending UAA. We decided to forego the typical high school experience and instead begin college early, a significant feat in and of itself. But our class has always been adept at overcoming challenges. Starting high school in the aftermath of a global pandemic, the uncertainty was high and the motivation was low, but we still showed resilience. It's no wonder that our class strayed from the conventional path forward and became
013a part of middle college. The challenges we have faced have programmed us to always push for more. Moving forward, we will continue to adapt and overcome just as we have learned to these last four years. Our drive has set us apart as we've already begun the next steps that most high school graduates anticipate. I have no doubt that our class will thrive in whatever aspects of life await us and that the resilience we have learned to emulate through struggle will continue to serve us well. So with that, congratulations to the class of 2025 and I wish you all the best in whatever future endeavors you pursue. Thank you. [Applause] distinguish guest. Okay. Okay, we're going to be moving into roll call here soon. And I do want to s uh announce some other significant achievements
014that we've talked about here. All of what you've done is remarkable because one of you, each and every one of you stuck to it and got the job done. And this class exemplifies hard work and grit and determination. I have no doubt that all of you will be a huge success in life. And so contributing to your success was a lot of support from AMCS and UAA staff. And tonight we are joined by the fantastic AMCS staff including uh our counselors, Miss Beth Sherwood. You can stand Beth Joanna Utterbach. Uh AMCS teachers, Mr. Simon Estes, Miss Tracy Esplan and Aurora [Applause] Hefley. And joining us from the University of Alaska Anchorage are AMCS coordinators and adviserss Belinda Kamacho and adviser Heather Brekie. [Applause] And I also want to tip my hat to the uh UAA
015professors who've worked really hard at providing all of you with exceptional highquality education. [Applause] I'd also like to take this opportunity to show my appreciation for all the family members, friends, coaches, mentors, university professors, employers, and high school teachers. I want to thank you for pouring your hearts and souls into these amazing students. [Applause] And so the vision for AMCS was set in motion eight years ago because of the strong support from ASD and UAA to see this program through. And over the past uh six years, we've graduated 1,782 students who've earned a combined total of more than 30,000 college credits with a tuition savings of $15 million. [Applause] And I just want to personally congratulate you on all of your achieve achievements and amazing success and uh have the honor of referring to you
016as a college student. I know you're fully prepared for entering adult life and we mean that. and our distinguished stage guests. No presentation. You're not just a little. All right. So, now we're going to accept the class of 2025. And I'm going to have the Superintendent Dr. Jared Bryant join me and school board president Carl Jacobs join me for this part. And now I'm going to ask the members of the Alaska Middle College School class of 2025 to rise. Dr. Dr. Bryant and President Jacobs, the records of each student present have been examined and been found to have met the criteria for graduation. From the Alaska or Anchorage School District, it is my honor to present you the Alaska Middle College School class of 2025. On behalf of the Anchorage School District administration, it is
017my sincere pleasure to accept the class of 2025 of the Alaska Middle College School. President Jacobs, may I present to you the class of 2025 of Alaska Middle College School. Thank you, Dr. Bryant. On behalf of the Anchorage School District School Board, I accept the class of 2025 of the Alaska Middle College School. Thank you. And now we're going to initiate roll call. And we uh get excited when you cheer and celebrate. So, please feel free. And let's begin the no uh roll call if students uh will you begin the process and follow your graduation coordinators. Deliver Evangelene Newkerk valid Victorian suma kumlady sila bi literacy German. [Applause] Denali Ashley Anawak Gamash, Alaska [Applause] native, youth advocate, future army, United States soldier. Tori Pavey Pavey, certified nursing assistant program. [Applause] Violet Buouie Suma Kumlad Sila
018biiteracy English and German national merit finalist Aaliyah Harris Barnes Kumlad Varsity Tennis Student Government Head Start Volunteer Therapy Aid Caitlyn Lin Dennis Magna Kum Lau Seal of Biiteracy Spanish National Honors Society Varsity Tennis Certified EKG Technician Key Club President Ryder Alla Eli Dove Amison Ran Anderson, National Merit Scholarship, Commended Student, Anchorage Parks Foundation Community Service Award, National Speech and Debate Honor Society with Distinction, National Speech and Debate Tournament Qualifier, Congressional Debate. Saurin R. Briggs Magna Kum Lad graduating with honors mechanical engineering at UAA varsity soccer, varsity cross country, varsity robotics, and varsity track. [Applause] Catherine Bradley [Applause] Kumlad Eliza Brace, certified ver veterinary assistant. Silus BS, varsity tennis, kum lau. Alden Biggley Kum Lad Amina Bener Rouge Magna [Music] Kumlad Victoria M. Batty Clark Magna Cumlad equestrian and Spanish immersion teacher Dylan M. Beals Kum
019Lad all state orchestra varsity baseball varsity track varsity hockey allconerence hockey [Applause] [Music] team Mario Joya [Applause] [Music] Basug Angelica Marie Balenbin Magna Cumlad CNA program Trio [Music] ETS Zaden Bush Magna Cumlaude Jaden Cabrera UA [Applause] Scholar Mason Mark Card Seal of [Applause] biiteracy. Sophie Chisum Magna [Applause] Cumlaude. Grace Choy, U.A. Scholar, emergency medical technician. [Applause] Story [Applause] Clement, Rebecca Conway, Magna [Applause] Cumla, Travette Ellis Cper, Magna Cumlaude, ANSEP Graduate, [Applause] [Music] Maggie Catherine, Mega Cumlaude, Ansep [Applause] Scholar, Angela Grace Flores, Kum Laude, National Honors Society, CNA Program, EMT program, Varsity Cheer, and Varsity Soccer. [Music] Finley Fiakco Magnaum [Music] [Applause] Laad Naziah Ferris Trio Upwardbound Program West Cheer Varsity [Applause] Letter. Isabella Queen Adadees Magnaum Laad Ella Christine Dunlap Magnaum La APS and UA Scholar recipient varsity shotput and [Applause] discus Cassenya Drew Hawk
020[Music] [Applause] Sarah Ditman, Magna Cumlad, eight varsity letters in sports, national honor society member, partners club member, twotime state champion for long jump. [Applause] Cody Deswinets, student of the semester, ANSEP alumni, recipient of University Success Scholarship, recipient of Alaska Performance Scholarship, starting Air Force uh ROC at UAA in the fall. Alexis Davenport, Magna Cumlad, Eileene Gioa, Benjamin Reed Gust, Sila Bitery and Spanish, UAA Scholar, Tucker R. Haley, graduating with 57 university credits. Favorite color is [Applause] green. Adriana Hollingsworth Solano, National Honor Society member, Tom Casease Leadership Fellow, TRIO Educational Talent Member, Peer Mentor, and Student Leader. Asia May Buban Holmes biomed career academic graduate two varsity letters cheer EMT [Music] certified Samantha Humphre four varsity letters diamond engineering academic academy graduate robotics State Champion Bessa May F is EMT certified. Melanie James, National Society of
021of High School Scholars, captain of varsity flag football and three varsity letters. Net E. James, 2025, triple graduate, age 17, graduated with honors from UAA in pharmacy tech. Miss Alaska Team USA, founder of Unruffled Minds, mental health advocate, varsity basketball captain, uh, associates in college before high school during high school, future premed student at Xavier University of Louisiana. [Applause] Elijah Lancetta AFJRTC drill team sec two-time state champion varsity armed and unarmed member TRIO ETSS member Air National Guard and 176 civil engineering squadron Dan Daniel Christopher Kroll private [Applause] pilot Madam Kum Kumladi and uh seal by literacy Henry Knap, Mileia Copen, immersion program, seal of biiteracy. Yeah, a few more. Denisa [Music] Cortis Trio Upwardbound Brillan Cade Joseph Mosley Alaska Youth for Environmental Action alumni sweet Haley Jones [Music] Joshua Johnston, Madame Kul. [Music] Nazarene
022Lee, Kumlad, Jzekio Lee, Evelyn Lameé, Kum [Music] Lad, Jake [Applause] Light, Lucky Low, Suma Kum [Music] [Applause] [Music] lad John Lowhis anth US junior national bathlon team varsity crosscountry skiing. Rudy Lowe, Ansep, Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program graduate with 56 college credits. Thank you. Ella Lou Cassich, Suma Kum Lad, certified P private pilot, UA scholar, varsity volleyball, varsity softball, twotime volleyball all tournament team. [Applause] [Music] Lily Marie Magalon, UA Scholar. Valerie Nunees Sosa, CNA program. Tom Casease Leadership Academy. Kenneth Jaden Nikolai Business Academy. Grayson Needm, Magna Kumlad, Haley Murray, Jeffrey Morton II, Julia Elizabeth Monttero, Suma Kumlad, UAA scholar, Tom Casease Leadership Academy fellow, UAA peer tutor, Pella Meisner, Suma Kum Lad, Ashlin May McVy, Kum Lad, National Honor Society Division One Varsity Cheer All Conference Team. Jasmine Kungha McDaniel Suma Kum Laad National
023Honors Society Varsity Softball Scholastic Art and Writing Two-Time Silvo Key Poet National Merit Scholarship Commended Student of Virginia US Presidential Scholar Candidate Department of State Kennedy Luger Youth Exchange and Study Abroad semi finalist Department of State Future Leaderships Exchange semi finalist AP scholar with distinction and attending Georgetown University in the fall. [Applause] Khloe McKay, four four-year varsity speech and debate, three-year debate captain, national speech and debate honors society with degree of special distinction. Desa Oxford, Magnaum Laad, UA Scholar. Madison Lee Petty, Magna Kumlad, Trio ETSs member, UA [Music] Scholar Denise FA F AI, a real Dino Baby. Sheree Lynn Porter, CNA program. Jasmine Powell, Beverly Louise Reed, Magna Kumlad, varsity flag football, varsity tennis, varsity basketball, varsity soccer. Okay. Jonas Eli Reynolds Kum [Applause] Laad Leah Rit Ritzinger Magna Cumlude. Thank you. I practiced it.
024Emma Lane Roberts, Magnaum Laad, AP Scholar with honors. Steven Spang, Andrew Spangler, Kum Laad, Ansep, South Varsity Hockey, South Pier Mentor, Ree Owen, Silknitter, Kum Laad, Christopher N. Shook Ireland Selby Kum Laad seal of biiteracy CNA [Applause] program. Diego Salazar Castro played on the service high school soccer team for two years. represented the school in soccer tournaments, learned English through the dual language immersion program, helped classmates with Spanish or English as a peer mentor. Hannah Ryberg, Magna Cumlude, seal of biiteracy and graduate of the Spanish immersion program, UA scholar. Erica Rudek, Magna Cumlude, Ftheta Kappa Honor Society, Robotic State Champion, three-time letter winner for robotics, made the deans list two times at Lake Superior College, control awardwinning team at robotics world championship, vice president of the psychology club at Lake Superior College. [Music] [Applause] Nora
025Aowen Raznal, Leah Romero, Sumakum Laad, seal of biiteracy in the service German program, NHS, National Honor Society, C1 certification in German language. Anton Robinson, US presidential scholar [Applause] candidate Logan A. Wall Gabriel Anson five Reed Windgard Comeland Anep Scholar Honors Seal of Biiteracy Sierra Yang Upwardbound Program Mentor member Maline Yannik Madame Kumladi, National Honor Society, Nvea Yates, Kumladi Mo Spooner, winner of the best filmmaker award at King Tech 2025 to Oceans Film Festival, Spirit of Youth Award winner. Jada Danielle St. Bryce, Madame Kunlady. Leah Kio Steel, Madame Kumladi, Brian Cameron, Impact Finalist, Tom Casease Leadership Program Fellow, Presidential Scholar, Semi Finalist, Chair of the Green Fee Board, four-year National Honor Hockey, or sorry, four-year varsity hockey, author of The Terror of the Sheep and The Law of the Crickets. Alexis Stone, CNA program, Emry Kaden
026Stone, Jillian Ray Stone, Tom Casease, Leadership Fellow, Anna Maria Linda Thompson, Sila Biteracy, ANSEP graduate, graduating with an associates of arts. Ala Franchel Leapad Treybal Madame Kumladi also varsity tennis dance excuse me yeah yeah Ella Van Vehovven Kumladi varsity dance. Rivana Tumu Tumi Fisu enlisted in the army CNA Tyler A. Kazubski [Applause] [Music] All right, graduates, please rise. By the power vested in me by the state of Alaska, I now pronounce you graduates of the Alaska Middle College School. Now, the AMCS senior yearbook staff will lead you in one final official bit of business. It's the traditional turning of the tassel. After the turning of the tassel, the ceremony will be ending. As the recessional plays, friends and families and graduates, please exit the stadium and meet outside of the Alaska Airlines Center after the
027tassel turning. Once again, congratulations to all of the class of 2025. [Applause] As we take our last steps before continuing on our own paths, let us end this chapter together. We can't help but reflect on the incredible journey we've all been through during our time at AMCS. On behalf of all AMCS graduates, we want to thank parents, faculty, and friends for not only joining us in our graduation, but also supporting all the students um throughout the last four years. Joining AMCS's dual enrollment high school was not just about accelerating our education. It was a profound journey of self-discovery and pushing boundaries. It taught us the valuable lessons uh that go beyond the classroom including independence, time management, and adaptability. We learned to take initiative in our education and not wait for opportunities to be created
028for us. The school has instilled confidence in pursuing our goals fearlessly and given us the tools to thrive in any of our future endeavors. Today, as we stand on the brink of new beginnings, we turn our tassels not just to signify our graduation, but to mark the commencement of a new journey. A journey that each of us has prepared for through years of dedication and hard work. While some of you may have had the chance to chose this close this chapter at your affiliate high school, it is now time for the AMCS students to turn the tassel. Will the class of 2025 help us end the ceremony by moving your tassel from left to right signifying our your official graduation on the count of three. One, two, three. Yay! [Applause] This is one [Music] Huh?
029Oh, really? They'll just clean them up.