Class Notes

Portrait close-up photo view of Al Koch smiling (pictured to far left) in a dark navy blue business blazer suit and white button-up dress shirt underneath as he stands holding his Lifetime Achievement Award plaque while posing next to three other lady peers

al koch

Portrait close-up photo view of Gwen Welch smiling in a black open jacket and dark navy blue t-shirt underneath
gwen welch
Portrait close-up photo view of Sarah Lukin smiling in a custom-made white/blue floral rose pattern themed dress and wearing tribal shaped themed earrings
sarah lukin
Portrait close-up photo view of Phillip Blanchett grinning in a red graphic t-shirt that has a whale and earth shaped illustration theme on it that has a message saying Defend The Sacred: Our Bodies, Our Lands, Our Ways as he is holding a large, round ceremonial drum and a drumstick and he is standing on a performing arts theater stage indoors with bright stage lights around and empty rows of seats in the far distance
phillip blanchett
Portrait close-up photo view of Sara Miller smiling in a black half plain, no pattern/half glittery, straight vertical lines pattern decorative dress while holding a rectangular small tan beige colored poster sign that says Proud to be the Alaska school counselor of the year while she stands in front of a American School Counselor Association logo branded backdrop
sara miller
Portrait close-up photo view of Selena Bailey smiling in a black cardigan top and has on see through prescription glasses
selena bailey
Portrait close-up photo view of Valerie Palmer smiling (pictured to far right) in a light beige open cardigan button top and custom-made white shirt that has patterns in the collar area as she holds an Army Engineer Association Bronze Order of the de Fleury medal certificate and has on the medal necklace around her as she poses standing next to Colonel Damon A. Delarosa who is in his forest green/dark brown army camouflage military outfit shaking his hand
valerie palmer
Portrait close-up photo view of Kristel Komakhuk smiling in pink lipstick, a black business blazer suit, and pink dress underneath, and wearing circular shaped earrings
kristel komakhuk
Portrait close-up photo view of Sarah Arts smiling in a blue Special Olympics logo branded polo top
sarah arts
Portrait close-up photo view of Katherine Carlton smiling in a black business blazer suit and dark blue dress underneath
katherine carlton
Portrait close-up photo view of Megan Eilers smiling in a black outer framed prescription see through glasses and has on a light grey hoodie
megan eilers
Portrait close-up photo view of Gretchen Meyers smiling in a dark grey cardigan open top while wearing a dark burgundy colored dress underneath and has on a circular custom-themed necklace
gretchen meyers
Portrait close-up photo view of Josie Wilson smiling in a dark black/off-white dress and has on pearl circular shaped earrings
josie wilson
Portrait close-up photo view of Nick Whitmore smiling in a dark black business blazer suit and light grey button-up dress shirt underneath with a dark green/dark navy blue striped tie equipped also
nick whitmore
Portrait close-up photo view of Emily Edenshaw smiling in a black dress with a turquoise colored necklace around her and partial quarter-cut trapezoidal prism turquoise earrings
emily edenshaw
Portrait close-up photo view of Emily McLaughlin smiling in a bright baby powder blue cardigan top with a gold necklace around her
emily mclaughlin
Portrait close-up photo view of Princess Daazhraii Johnson smiling in a dark brown open jacket with a black dress underneath as she also has a three vertical dark black lines parallel tribal pattern to what appears like a birthmark/tattoo underneath her lips area that extends towards the bottom of her chin area
Princess Daazhraii Johnson
Portrait close-up photo view of Lily Tuzroyluke grinning in a wintery/furry black/white hoodie cover and red/black/white hoodie coat with the inner part of the hoodie coat dark navy blue plus a black dress underneath as she has on tribal themed white colored necklaces, earrings, and even a bottom half-cut rhombus shaped tribal to what appears like a birthmark/tattoo located on her forehead
Lily Tuzroyluke

1981

The Alaska Travel Industry Association honored real estate alumnus Al Koch, B.B.A. ’87, A.A. ’81, with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the ATIA Annual Convention, recognizing his lifelong support of and leadership in Alaska tourism, promotion of industry standards of excellence, and contributions to the industry’s growth as a whole. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Travel Industry Association)

1995

Chugach Alaska named accounting alumna Gwen Welch, B.B.A. ’95, as vice president of operations, the culmination of an over 20-year career with the Alaska Native corporation. Most recently, Welch served as the corporation’s finance leader for the last three years. (Photo courtesy of Chugach Alaska)

2000

Upon the retirement of its president and CEO, Cook Inlet Region, Inc. announced the promotion of history alumna Sarah Lukin, B.A. ’00, as the Alaska Native corporation’s new president. Lukin previously served as chief strategy officer for CIRI. (Photo courtesy of Cook Inlet Region, Inc.)

2002

General program alumnus Phillip Blanchett, A.A. ’02, appeared as a guest actor on the HBO crime drama series True Detective: Night Country. Airing in January and February 2024, the fourth season of the Emmy-winning show was set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, based on the North Slope Borough.

2003

Counseling and guidance alumna Sara Miller, M.Ed. ’03, was named Alaska’s 2024 School Counselor of the Year, culminating in a trip to Washington, D.C., to discuss matters regarding career and technical education, mental health advocacy and financial aid with Department of Education representatives. An Anchorage School District counselor for over 20 years, Miller created the Civic Leadership Program at South Anchorage High School, which provides students with the opportunity to mix community service with their classes to earn college credits at UAA. (Photo courtesy of Sara Miller)

2004

Alaska nonprofit RurAL CAP named accounting alumna Selena Bailey, A.A.S. ’04, its chief financial officer. Bailey joins the nonprofit with more than 16 years of accounting experience and most recently was the CFO at Catholic Social Services in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy of RurAL CAP)

2006

In August 2023, civil engineering alumna Valerie Palmer, B.S. ’06, was awarded the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal, the highest award for professional excellence in the U.S. Army Engineers Regiment. Palmer currently serves as deputy chief of the Programs and Project Management Division for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

2007

The University of Alaska announced that management alumna Kristel Komakhuk, B.B.A. ’07, had joined the leadership team as senior director of Alaska Native success and partnerships. In this role, Komakhuk will help to guide and support the implementation of the Alaska Native Success Initiative Strategic Plan, and focus on strengthening relationships between UA and Alaska Native partners. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska)

2008

Special Olympics Alaska chose psychology alumna Sarah Arts, B.A. ’08, to be its new president and CEO. Previously serving in the roles in an interim capacity, Arts has been with the organization since 2006, starting as a college intern. (Photo courtesy of the Special Olympics Alaska)

2009

Chugach Alaska announced the promotion of accounting alumna Katherine Carlton, B.B.A. ’09, to vice president of ANCSA (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) and community affairs. (Photo courtesy of Chugach Alaska)

2009

Kicking off 2024, in January nursing alumna Megan Eilers, A.A.S. ’09, was surprised with this year’s $25,000 Milken Educator Award, considered to be the Oscar of teaching. Eilers is a registered nurse and instructs future generations of health care workers as a health occupations teacher at Hutchison High School in Fairbanks. (Photo courtesy of the Milken Educator Awards)

2009

Geomatics alumna Gretchen Meyers, B.S. ’09, returned to R&M Consultants as a senior land surveyor in the geomatics department. Meyers was previously at the firm from 2010 to 2014 before taking a break to raise her family. (Photo courtesy of R&M Consultants)

2009

Business administration alumna Josie Wilson, M.B.A. ’09, stepped into the role of president for the PRSA Alaska Chapter. Wilson previously received the Alumni Humanitarian award during the 2018-19 UAA Alumni of Distinction awards. (Photo courtesy of PRSA Alaska Chapter)

2011

International accounting firm and one of the Big Four accounting organizations KPMG announced the promotion of accounting alumnus Nick Whitmore, B.B.A. ’11, A.A.S. ’11, as the tax managing director of its Anchorage office. Whitmore originally joined KPMG in 2011. (Photo courtesy of KPMG)

2012

On Feb. 8, the White House announced the nominations of several individuals to serve as key leaders in the Biden administration, including journalism alumna Emily Edenshaw, B.A. ’12, to be a member of the National Council on the Humanities. Edenshaw currently serves as president and CEO of the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Native Heritage Center)

2013

Thompson & Co. Public Relations promoted journalism alumna Emily McLaughlin, B.A. ’13, to vice president. McLaughlin originally joined the firm 10 years ago as an intern. (Thompson & Co. Public Relations)

2017

Teaching and learning alumna Princess Daazhraii Johnson, M.Ed. ’17, served as a creative producer on the HBO crime drama series True Detective: Night Country. Airing in January and February 2024, the fourth season of the Emmy-winning show was set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, based on the North Slope Borough. (Photo courtesy of Princess Daazhraii Johnson)

2020

Justice alumna Lily Tuzroyluke, B.A. ’20, is one of USA Today’s Women of the Year for 2024. Tuzroyluke’s debut novel, Sivulliq: Ancestor, a historical thriller following an Iñupiaq family searching for their kidnapped child, was a part of the Library of Congress’ Great Read from Great States list for 2023. (Photo courtesy of USA Today)