Click here to see the Spring 2024 Course Schedule!

This week we rocked our mocs!!

We are delighted to have students like Hilary "Mek" Apangalook at Iḷisaġvik College! Learn more about her in this Student Highlight Q&A- Quyanaqpak for sharing these words with us Mek!

Q&A:

Q: NAME? DO YOU HAVE AN IÑUPIAQ/YUPIK/NATIVE NAME?

A: My atepik (Yupik) name is Mekegsaq. I usually go by Mek for short. My great grandpa’s cousin Saavla gave it to me, meaning bird snare. My great great grandfather Uwetelen would set up his bird snare on the mountain by a big rock, which he called mekegsaqhvik.

Q: WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

A: I’m from Gambell on St. Lawrence Island. My Grandparents are Leonard Apangalook Sr. from Gambell,St Lawrence Island and Mildred Reese Apangalook from Yakutat. My Grandparents Jerome Apatiki and Lydia Apatiki are both from Gambell, St. Lawrence Island. Both of my parents Ronald and Carolyn Apangalook are from Gambell, St. Lawrence Island.

Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE DHAT PROGRAM?

A: There are many things that I like about the DHAT program but what comes to mind is the appreciation and passion our instructors have for teaching. This motivates me to continue to learn and grow, makes me excited to learn.

Q: WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?

A: I like keeping my hands busy with arts and crafts. I love creating art, especially if it involves sharing it with our local communities! You will usually see me with some yarn and crochet needle.

Q: WHY IḶISAĠVIK?

A: Embracing who I am culturally is vital, along with many of my fellow Indigenous kin. Iḷisaġvik centers this among their mission and vision statements. I feel celebrated every day and it only motivates me to continue to uplift other Indigenous voices and peoples who may have experienced feeling lost or out of place among post-secondary education environments and/or just navigating spaces as an Indigenous person(s).

Interested in the DHAT (Dental Health Aide Therapist) program? Learn more about it here:

https://www.ilisagvik.edu/programs/dental-therapy/

Aarigaa to our IC student and staff/faculty winners for their Indigeverse submissions! 

BEST VIDEO- STUDENT=FIRST PLACE: Tracy and Kimberley Burns for their film, "Tuluŋigraq" 

BEST VIDEO- STAFF/FACULTY= FIRST PLACE: Monica Curiel-Wall & Daniel Wall for their Film "Horror Night"

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY/ART- STUDENT= SECOND PLACE: Nancy Grant for her artwork, "Celestial Snow"

View all the winners and their works here: https://www.indigeverse.org/

We’re so excited to have sworn in our newly elected Student Government officials. President Faith Muavae, Vice President Ronald Kippi-Kingik, Secretary Patricia Alberca, and Treasurer Tatiana Lavaka will be the voice of the student body within the institution and in the community. We look forward to seeing their hard work and dedication and we’re proud to have such wonderful and committed students!

We hope you all had as much fun as we did on Halloween! The executive team went as old aakas; students services were Minions, and workforce development went as a rollercoaster to name a few of the fantastic costumes. Aarigaa to our Halloween event winners; Dean Mori for winning the hidden item contest, Christine Coll for her amazing door decoration and Monica Curiel-Wall for her incredibly spooky costume!

Quyanaqpak Workforce Development team for hosting this event and especially for the IV bags filled with delicious punch :)

Make your gift online - any amount that feels meaningful for you - and support Tribal Education. As a supporter, your generosity ensures our student's success and strengthens our community. https://www.Ilisagvik.edu/give/

Denise Iluqtun Driggs has recently joined the Iḷisaġvik family in her new role as the Executive Assistant to the Dean of Administration and we are so thrilled she is here!

Denise was born in Utqiaġvik but lived in Wainwright up until the 5^th grade and moved back to Barrow in 1999. She is the mother of 4 beautiful boys and is married to AJ Driggs. Her family grew up whaling and they are active members with her cousin Lucy Leavitt’s crew, Pamiilaq crew. Denise enjoys camping and spending as much time outdoors when weather permits.

Denise brings forth 16 years of administrative work spanning back to the beginning of her career in 2007 with the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) in their shareholder department and continued with Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC) both on the Corporate and Commercial side. Her most recent employment was working with the local GCI store as the Store Manager since 2020.

Denise is excited and thankful for her new role here at Iḷisaġvik. She also shared a quote that has stuck with her which says, “Your talents got you this far, but your motivation and attitude will show just how above and beyond you’ll go for your job.” – Henry Ford

Quyarugut savaqatigivlutin!

We are grateful to have you as a co-worker!

Denise’s office is located at our main campus, building 360 across from the president’s conference room. She can be reached via phone at 907-852-1868 or via email at [email protected].

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