GCI awards $46,000 in scholarships to 23 Alaska students
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Twenty-three Alaska students from communities across the state will each receive $2,000 for the 2020-21 academic year through the GCI Scholarship Program in partnership with the Alaska Community Foundation. The program was launched more than 20 years ago to help develop and grow Alaska’s next generation of leaders.
Since the program began, GCI has awarded more than $6 million in scholarship funds to hundreds of Alaska students attending accredited colleges and vocational/trade schools across the country.
“Through all of the disruptions and uncertainty Alaska’s students have faced these last few months, staying focused on their post-secondary education goals is more important than ever,” said Dr. Pam Lloyd, VP of GCI Government, Healthcare & Education Corporate Strategy. “We strongly believe that encouraging and enabling Alaska’s young people to pursue advanced educational opportunities is critical for the future of our state, and we hope the GCI Scholarship Program provides these students the assistance they need to achieve their education goals."
2020-21 GCI Scholarship Recipients
- Cessna Keene – Anchorage, AK
- Kaitlin Chon – Anchorage, AK
- William Thomas – Anchorage, AK
- Sebastien Libbrecht – Anchorage, AK
- Lucas Lohman – Anchorage, AK
- Nikita Shangin – Anchorage, AK
- Savanna Maxon – Anchorage, AK
- Lindsey Beans-Polk – Bethel, AK
- Kali Smedley – Eagle River, AK
- Michael Odom – Fairbanks, AK
- Alexie Evan – Goodnews Bay, AK
- Rio Shemet Pitcher – Homer, AK
- Joseph Tovar – JBER, AK
- Dalton Hoy – Juneau, AK
- Ryan Scarzella – Ketchikan, AK
- Annrael Jerusalem – King Cove, AK
- Melchora Pagsolingan – Kodiak, AK
- Iris George – Kwethluk, AK
- Anastasia Rankin – Unalaska, AK
- Ivana Ingle – Wasilla, AK
- Julianna Johnson – Wasilla, AK
- Kiana Ortilla – Utqiagvik, AK
- Esau Weyiouanna – Utqiagvik, AK
Recipients represent 15 communities across Alaska, stretching from Unalaska in the Aleutians, east to Ketchikan, and more than 1,300 miles north to Utqiagvik. Awardees plan to seek a degree or certification with a STEM focus with an intention to return to Alaska to start their careers.
GCI is one of Alaska’s leaders in corporate philanthropy, donating approximately $2 million each year in cash, products and connectivity to organizations across the state. GCI is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and provides employees with 16 hours of paid leave to volunteer with local organizations. In 2019, nearly 550 GCI employees volunteered more than 5,300 hours.
For more information about the GCI Scholarship Program, visit https://alaskacf.org/blog/scholarships/the-gci-scholarship/.
About GCI
GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer and business customers throughout Alaska. GCI has delivered services for nearly 40 years to some of the most remote communities and in some of the most challenging conditions in North America. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI Liberty, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLIBA, GLIBP). Learn more about GCI Liberty at www.gciliberty.com.