University of Alaska Fairbanks
Alaska Native Studies, Class of 2014
Native Village of Kotzebue

Good morning Denali! We hear that you knew Caleb personally.

I did! Caleb was my Lions Club basketball coach in elementary school, teaching teamwork and hard work along with having fun, which all amount to a strong work ethic.

That sounds like an incredible memory to have of Caleb. Along with being active and working hard, Caleb was also deeply committed to protecting our marine resources. In what ways do you engage in marine conservation?

I am an advocate for living a strong, healthy subsistence lifestyle and share my culture with others – and why it is important to keep our oceans clean, healthy, and protected from damage that will affect the marine wildlife which affect my People, as we have a strong connection with the animals and the sea.

We here at CalebScholars.org completely agree. Protecting our resources and advocating for a strong connection to our environment is essential to our livelihood. Is this what you plan to do when you graduate in 2015?

After earning my degrees from the University of Alaska Fairbanks I’d like to go to the lower 48 and attend a culinary arts school for a couple of years and then return home to Kotzebue to be active in the community and raise my family living a subsistence lifestyle and teaching the Inupiaq Values.

That sounds awesome! Well, good luck Denali! We know you will go far!