Hoonah’s Austin Joins Regiment of Midshipmen at US Merchant Marine Academy
Victoria Austin of Hoonah was recently sworn in as a Midshipman in the U.S. Naval Reserve at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, New York. Austin was nominated by U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young of Alaska.
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is a federal service academy that educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine officers. In addition to the rigorous academic and physical requirements for admission, applicants must be nominated by their Congressman or Senator.
It is one of five federal service academies, which include the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
All USMMA graduates earn both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Merchant Marine Officer license, and incur an obligation to serve the country as an active or reserve officer in the U.S. armed forces.
The U.S. Flag Merchant Marine – manned by U.S. merchant mariners – is essential for securing the country’s commerce in peacetime and delivering warfighters, weapons and military supplies in times of conflict. The majority of “Kings Pointers” will serve as Navy reservists in the Strategic Sealift Officer Program while working aboard U.S. flag vessels; others will serve on active duty in our nation’s armed forces.
As part of her four-year education, Austin will spend one year training as a cadet aboard ocean going vessels. USMMA is the only federal academy where students train on commercial vessels traveling around the globe.
Jodie Gatti promoted to social enterprise manager
Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) announced Monday the promotion of Jodie Gatti to social enterprise manager.
Jodi Gatti
Gatti will be responsible for the development, implementation, coordination and promotion of the tribe’s existing social enterprises (Sacred Grounds Café, Sacred Shine Auto Detailing, Smokehouse Catering and the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall). She’ll also work closely with Tlingit & Haida’s Business & Economic Development (BED) department to evaluate self-sustaining business opportunities with a social development impact that can provide employment opportunities to tribal citizens.
Jodie previously worked as the Tribe’s Business & Economic Development Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Alaska Anchorage and has held internships with Department of Revenue and First Alaskans Institute.
Students named as National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists
Three local students have been National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists: Alex J. Eagan and Joel A. Smith of Juneau-Douglas High School, and Keenan D. Miller of Thunder Mountain High School.
The names of roughly 16,000 semifinalists were released last week by officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition.
Over 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
Daffodil Alinson named to Summer 2019 Dean’s List
Daffodil Alinson of Juneau was named to the Dean’s List at Ashland University for the summer 2019 semester. Alinson is majoring in nursing.
Ashland University is a mid-sized, comprehensive private university located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio.
Anna Parise starts college at the University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky welcomed the largest incoming class in history, comprised 5,396 incoming freshmen who began their college career during the Fall 2019 semester.
Anna Parise of Juneau is one of 1,661 incoming freshmen in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her academic major is psychology.
