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2008 University of Alaska Fairbanks commencement

The University of Alaska Fairbanks held its 86th commencement ceremony, conferring 1,185 degrees on 1,125 students. Alaska writer laureate and criminal defense investigator John Straley was the keynote speaker on Sunday, May 11, 2008, urging the students to give the day their full attention. “Listen, here we are, and it could have been otherwise, but this moment is calling each of us to its attention so that we may look, consider and answer,” Straley said.

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Their academic quests may have started in uniquely different ways, but they all ended on Sunday in a sea of gold and blue balloons at the University of Alaska Fairbanks commencement ceremony.

The university conferred 1,185 degrees on 1,125 students during its 86th ceremony.

Alaska writer laureate and criminal defense investigator John Straley served as the keynote speaker and shared stories from his life and work. More importantly, he stressed the importance of being together.

“Listen, here we are, and it could have been otherwise, but this moment is calling each of us to its attention so that we may look, consider and answer,” Straley said.

The author was honored with an honorary doctoral degree along with Larry Aumiller, longtime manager of the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary; Native art expert Bill Holm; and aviator and businessman Richard Wien.

One of more than 500 students who crossed the stage at the Carlson Center was Katherine Keith. Keith is the 2008 winner of the Grey S. Tilly Memorial Award, an honor bestowed on a graduating senior whose education was interrupted by family responsibilities.

Keith was living in Kotzebue when she lost her eldest daughter to sudden infant death syndrome in 2004. Six months later, her husband was killed when his airboat was lost while flying a neighbor into town for medical reasons.

“I stayed there for six months because I was so attached, we had our life there,” Keith said.

But after realizing she would have to support herself and her youngest daughter, Keith moved to Fairbanks to continue her education. Keith earned a bachelor’s degree in renewable energy engineering and computational physics. She plans to get a doctorate in the field of engineering so she can work on the problem of renewable energy.

“The next step in research and development for renewables is to find solutions that work,” she said.

In the 2007-2008 school year, UAF’s graduates were 55 percent female. The youngest graduate was 18, while the oldest was 66. Alaska Natives made up 20 percent of the graduates.

The UAF 2008 class is as different as their journeys to get their degrees:

• Talis Colberg, Alaska’s attorney general, received his doctorate in Northern Political History and Culture on Sunday. His thesis was titled, “M.D. Snodgrass: The Founder of the Alaska State Fair” and focused on Snodgrass’ life and experiences in Alaska. Gov. Sarah Palin and the Palin adminstration sent their congratulations to Colberg on completing his doctorate.

• Devdatta and Sayali Kulkarni are a husband and wife who graduated together. Devdatta was awarded a doctorate in mechanical engineering and Sayali earned a master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. They worked on their degrees while working jobs in different towns.

• Margaret Cysewski graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the same time her father, Stephen Cysewski, was honored with emeritus status at UAF. Stephen has been with UAF for 17 years as a professor of computer science.

• Ryan Booth had to overcome physical hardships to gain his bachelor’s degree in geology. Booth’s motorcycle struck a moose and after barely surviving he spent the first months of the 2006-2007 school year in a wheelchair with two broken legs.

• Ben Fleagle started working on his degree in 1986 and was awarded an associate’s degree in municipal fire control Sunday. Fleagle is a captain with the University Fire Department and an instructor with the emergency services program at UAF. He received his degree alongside some of his students.

• Mike Deneen was awarded a certificate for automotive technology. As he worked on his degree, he was also working on his second year of recovery from heroin addiction. Deneen already has a job in his field.

“I’d like people to know you are not damned for life because of it,” Deneen said. “You can succeed.”

• Lorie J. Hanson traveled 29 hours to walk across the stage. Hanson earned a certificate in applied business management by completing more than 40 credits through distance education while based in Guam.

• William Pfeifer Jr. is the 2008 recipient of the Joel Wiegert Award, which recognizes the outstanding graduating senior man. Among his other accomplishments, Pfeifer served as a tutor for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program and ministered through the Campus Catholic Ministry. He will attend Purdue University in the fall to pursue a graduate degree in computer science.

• Larae Minteer was awarded this year’s Boswell Award, which recognizes the outstanding graduating senior woman. In 2007, she was named mechanical engineering outstanding student of the year. She was also an active member of Society of Women Engineers and president of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. She plans to live and work in Fairbanks.

• Student speaker Cameron Poindexter is one of a handful of graduates who have leadership honors. As a sophomore he served as resident assistant on an all-female floor. The following year, he was named assistant resident director, a job usually reserved for graduate students with education or counseling backgrounds.

In his speech, Poindexter reminisced about his student days and talked about the challenge to make change happen. He also reminded students that they survived and succeeded in the harsh environment of Fairbanks.

Poindexter told his graduating classmates to learn from the challenges they faced in Fairbanks because they will succeed anywhere they go afterward.

“Class of 2008, are you ready to graduate?” Poindexter asked his fellow graduates. “Then let’s graduate.”