FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lynda Giguere
Phone: 907-398-6205
April 22, 2019—Kenai, Alaska—
Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council (CIRCAC) has awarded scholarships to two students from the Cook Inlet area
to help them pursue their goals in environmental, maritime and technical studies. Now in its fifth year, CIRCAC’s Scholarship Program has to date awarded $25,000 to aspiring stewards to benefit Cook Inlet’s future.
This year’s James Carter Memorial Scholarship for Environmental Sciences is going to Alie Minium, a 2019 graduate from Nikiski High School. Ms. Minium is the daughter of Henia and Duke Minium. Her honors and activities include President of the National Honor Society, Vice President and Student Vice President of the Student Council, 2016 Student of the Year, co-founder of a weekly bible study group, and Salamatof student representative for the Kenaitze Housing Board. She has coached cross country skiing, and also excels in dance and equestrian sports. Alie aspires to work in disaster relief and environmental education. She plans to attend California Baptist University.
Christopher Knox is a 2019 graduate of King Tech High School in Anchorage. He is the son of Peter and Kazumi Knox. Mr. Knox excels in soccer and track and field. He has won awards in logic, Latin, and the National Mythology Exam and was voted Student of the Semester for engineering design in the 12
th
Grade. Christopher’s goal is to be an innovator of sustainable technology to improve energy efficiency in technology. He plans to attend the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
CIRCAC’s Scholarship Committee, comprised of Board Director Carla Stanley and public committee members Rick Frederic (Environmental Monitoring Committee) and Captain Bob Pawlowski, (Prevention, Response, Operations and Safety Committee), made the selections based on the applicants’ stated goals, resumes, references, transcripts and essays. This year’s recipients represent the first scholarships awarded to King Tech and Nikiski Schools.
“I think we all believe that these students are really special and unbelievably well prepared,” said Carla Stanley who represents the City of Homer.
CIRCAC is a federally mandated citizens’ organization, formed under the Federal Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90). Its mission is to represent the citizens of Cook Inlet in promoting environmentally safe marine transportation and oil facility operations. In pursuing this mandate, the Council strives to help protect Cook Inlet’s environment, fisheries, economic vitality, cultural resources and recreational interests.
