Author: UA Workforce Development

UAF’s K-12 Outreach/Educators Rising Alaska to Host Over 200 Participants in Juneau

Participants of the 2023 Educators Rising Alaska Conference gathered for a group photo, which was held on the UAF Troth Yeddha’ Campus. UAF photo by Eric Engman.

Middle and high school students and their teacher leaders from across Alaska will attend the annual Educators Rising Alaska State Leadership Conference, held this year on the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Juneau campus, Feb. 22-23. The annual state conference rotates amongst UA’s three main campuses: UAF, UAA and UAS to provide an immersive experience in the education field. This years’ conference is expected to have over 200 attendees. 

The state conference kickoff will be Thursday, Feb. 22 on the UAS Campus where attendees will hear from inspirational speakers including 2023-24 Alaska Teacher of the Year, Catherine Walker, Interim UAS School of Education Dean Carlee Simon, and state leaders. Students will then attend breakout sessions for two days, relating to entering college, education careers and more.

An award ceremony in the Juneau Arts and Culture Center will wrap up the conference on Friday, Feb. 23 to recognize those who competed. Students will see presentations from UA President Pat Pitney, UAS Chancellor Aparna Palmer, Senator Lisa Murkowski and Representative Mary Peltola, followed by a closing ceremony including performances from Woosh.ji.een Dance Group and All Nations Children’s Dance Group.

Read the full story here. Link to watch ceremonies: bit.ly/42EQw25

Educators Rising Alaska is a diverse, teacher and student-led grassroots movement that aims to inspire high school and college students to serve their communities by entering the field of education. School-based chapters are in every U.S. state, where students practice the necessary skills to lead a classroom while adding student voice to State and National discussions around education.

Source: UAF News and Information.

Alaska’s First Veterinary Technician Degree Program is Coming to Mat-Su College

A new Mat-Su College course is intended to remedy a statewide shortage of veterinary technicians through Alaska’s first degree program, scheduled to start in September. The new University of Alaska Anchorage program at the Mat-Su College campus will run 2 1/2 years or six semesters and is open to 16 students, said professor Dr. Judith Montalbano, who has worked at private clinics in the Mat-Su and helps oversee the college’s current veterinary assisting certification program. The application deadline is March 1. All classes will be in-person in Mat-Su, she said.

Read the Anchorage Daily News feature here.

Source: Austin Osborne, Director. UAA Department of Marketing & Communications.

Alaska Economic Trends (February 2024)

Hiking in Denali National Park, photo by Cody Badger Creative Commons by nc-sa 2.0.

Rob Kreiger of the Alaska Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development discusses the significant role nonresident workers play in Alaska’s recovery from the 2020 pandemic. The number of Alaska resident workers is still bouncing back from COVID — nonresident workers have exceeded them. Kreiger highlights industries currently relying on nonresident workers and the paths these workers take to fill the state’s workforce gaps.

The February edition also provides 2022 worker residency data, and the monthly report Gauging the Economy.

Read the full edition here.

Trends is a nonpartisan, data-driven magazine that covers a variety of economic topics in Alaska.

Source: Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Research & Analysis

Open Now! ASA Training Scholarship

SAFE. TRAINED. READY.

At their core, the Alaska Safety Alliance (ASA) is about workforce development. Building the skills and proficiencies of Alaskans is a critical component of ensuring a healthy business environment and strong economy for our state in a global economy. It’s ASA’s mission to ensure the availability of a highly trained workforce, sufficient to staff Alaska’s industries safely and competitively, now and in the future.

The ASA Training Scholarship program was created to assist Alaskans who are interested in careers in oil & gas, mining, maritime, construction, or cross-industry. Scholarships are one way we can help ensure Alaskans have sufficient skills, training, and education for a successful career in Alaska.

ALASKA SAFETY ALLIANCE TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP

ASA and Alaska 529 have partnered to establish the Alaska Safety Alliance Training Scholarship, and are excited to announce that the application period is now open, through May 31, 2024!

GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

-Applicant must be an Alaska resident. 

-This scholarship is for applicants who intend to enroll or are currently enrolled in an academic or training program leading to a certification, credential, or degree that will support the applicant’s entry or advancement in a career in Alaska’s oil & gas, mining, construction, or maritime industries. Training program must be Alaska-based or unavailable in Alaska.

-The scholarship is a one-time award. Applicants may re-apply each year and may be selected to receive multiple awards, subject to a maximum lifetime award amount of $5,000.  

-The maximum funding level for the scholarship is $1,500 per applicant, per program year ($750 per semester for semester-based programs), payable to the institution. The scholarship review committee recommends award recipients and the final award amounts are at the sole discretion of ASA.  

-The number of awards each program year is subject to fund availability. 

Download complete program information and application requirements including a complete list of required supporting documents.

Click HERE to Apply Online

Deadline to apply for 2024-2025 award year: May 31st, 2024

Source: Alaska Safety Alliance.

Women in Construction Week – March 6

WIC Week™, or Women in Construction Week™, celebrates and promotes the role of women in the construction industry. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) held the first WIC Week in 1998 and it has grown and expanded each year since. This year’s theme, ‘Keys to the Future’, celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry.

Alaska Safety Alliance (ASA) is excited to join the NAWIC Alaska Chapter to support a series of events for WIC Week! The NAWIC Alaska Chapters holds WIC Week events each year.  The 2024 events include OSHA a Kick-Off mixer at the Peanut Farm, OSHA 10-Hour Safety Training, a Get Hired event, and much more.  

Construction firms of all sizes and types are encouraged to participate in WIC Week and show their support for their women employees. Contact the Alaska Safety Alliance or NAWIC Alaska Chapter to volunteer or get more information about all upcoming events.

The planning committee is seeking sponsors, volunteers, and attendees for a variety of events all week long! Please help us spread the word and contact naomi@alaskasafetyalliance.org for more information.

Source: Alaska Safety Alliance.