The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) announced last month that Eagle River High School student Jasmine Elizabeth Trotter will join Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Daniel Sullivan in representing Alaska during the 61st annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 4 — 11.

Trotter was selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program provides the most outstanding high school students - two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity - with an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it.

Congratulations, Jasmine!

ASD students grades 3rd through 6th gathered at West High School the week of January 30 to compete in the District-level of the Battle of the Books competition. Hundreds of students, coaches, parents, and coordinators came together to make this event happen that promotes reading and reading comprehension. This year's competition had the students reading 12 books chosen by librarians from across the state.

Team ASD: Where should we begin?

Andrea: This picture was from when she got her master’s in education. She graduated from The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She lived in Anchorage, so she had to travel to Fairbanks for the ceremony. She had problems finding a hotel. She said that there were a lot of racial undertones- actually it wasn’t even undertones, it was blatant. A hotel would have a vacancy and then it didn’t have a vacancy. She ended up staying with a friend. When she got to the graduation, she said she felt isolated. This picture depicts how she was feeling because she was standing out from the crowd. That picture has a deep meaning to our family.

Team ASD: When did she become a principal?

Andrea: She was the assistant principal at Willow Crest and then became principal at Fairview. She was technically the first Black assistant principal and that was at Willow Crest in 1968 and then she was appointed as principal at Fairview in 1969.

Team ASD: What brought your family to Alaska?

Andrea: We have always been a family of entrepreneurs. My grandfather had a hardware store, other family members started a restaurant, and painting and construction businesses, which is how my uncles came to Alaska. My uncles and my mom’s first cousin came here in the early 50s. Then my mom came to visit and basically never left. She transferred her teaching credentials to Alaska and was hired by ASD. She was going to go back to California but after the Watts Riots, she ended up staying in Alaska. She loved Alaska.

Team ASD: How old was your mom when she first came to Alaska?

Andrea: She was in her mid 20’s when she first came to Alaska in 1957. What she liked about Anchorage it was calmer and less crime and people. A better way of life. The clean air. She loved the outdoors. She loved fishing, boating, and camping; we were in the middle of the wilderness all summer. 

Team ASD: Where did she live?

Andrea: In Mountain View and later moved to Nelchina Street in Fairview. At that time, we couldn’t live everywhere in Anchorage. You couldn’t just get a house or move into any apartment. There are still covenants on the books that prevented people of color from purchasing land or living in certain areas of Anchorage. She told me that she would knock on the door with a for rent sign only to have it slammed in her face by the landlord. There was a lot of racism during that time especially when it came to housing.

Team ASD: Where did she teach in Anchorage?

Andrea: She taught school at Government Hill, Wonder Park, Mountain View, and Denali and was appointed assistant principal at Willow Crest, and later principal at Fairview, Ptarmigan and John F. Kennedy.

Team ASD: What do you remember about your mother’s time as an educator?

Andrea: She was a strong advocate for education and mentored children and young adults. I remember there was always someone at our house. A lot of them later became teachers, principals and prominent in the community. Everyone knew her as “Thel.” She had a great sense of community.

Team ASD: What was she like outside of school?

Andrea: My mom was a hard worker, very strong willed and spoke her mind. She was a great advocate for those that she felt were mistreated and often accompanied youth and adults to various meetings to try and resolve any disputes amicably. She was a “problem solver”. 

Team ASD: She seemed so driven. What motivated her?

Andrea: My grandparents were a great influence on her. My grandfather was a go-getter. He drove his 8 kids across the country from Mississippi to California in the 1940’s for a better life.

Team ASD: Tell us about her days after retirement.

Andrea: When she retired in 1980, we held a big retirement dinner with over 300 people from the community at the Elmendorf Officers Club. 

Above: Andrea Davis-Antoine, the daughter of Dr. Etheldra Davis, speaks at the podium at the renaming ceremony of Fairview Elementary School to Dr. Etheldra Davis Fairview Elementary School on May 11, 2022.