PALMER — For her professional accomplishments and community service, Lorali Carter, spokeswoman for Matanuska Electric Association, was chosen as one of the 2010 Alaska’s Top 40 Under 40.

Carter, who sits on the board of directors for the University of Alaska Anchorage Alumni Association and Access Alaska, said she was humbled by the award given by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.

“I think in every person there is this little piece that says there are better people than them,” Carter said. “I am honored.”

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Lorali Carter, spokeswoman for Matanuska Electric Association, was chosen as one of the 2010 Alaska's Top 40 Under 40.

However, she said, she serves others not for the awards. She works with her alma mater because she is committed to higher education. Increasing access for people living independently with a disability — the mission of Access Alaska — is a cause she truly cares about.

“Being recognized in your profession is nice, but most people don’t do public service to be recognized,” Carter said. “We are all supposed to serve in some capacity.”

A descendent of Matanuska colonists, Carter was born and raised in Alaska. After graduating high school, she said she was tempted to flee to the Lower 48 for college like so many of her peers.

“I felt like I needed to stay home for my first two years. Tuition was affordable,” Carter said.

But after her first two years, Carter fell in love with UAA. She said her professors and friends were great, and just by working at Costco she was able to graduate debt free.

Now, to say thank you to the college that gave her so much, Carter volunteers her time with the alumni association.

“Our primary focus is to build a community of alumni and keep them engaged with the university,” Carter said. “We are trying to keep the university as a part of the larger community.”

The association is also dedicated to raising money through alumni support, Carter said. She said she would like to see more private money coming to the university in addition to the public funding.

“As we are all professionals now, we know sometimes we still need to rely on the university. Whether it’s for educated employees, or if they just want to see a hockey game,” Carter said.

There is no personal connection between Carter and Access Alaska, she is just dedicated to making sure disabled people are being served by their community. The group does this in a number of ways.

The Personal Care Attendants program provides care to people healthy enough to live alone but in need of some assistance.

“You could call it really mild health care,” she said.

The group also provides emotional support to those newly disabled, as well as helping them make the necessary adjustments to their living conditions.

“Let’s say you get in a car accident and are now in a wheelchair. You are living in a whole new world,” Carter said. “We can help coordinate a ramp being built at your house.”

Lastly, Access Alaska is an advocate for those who have disabilities, she said.

“We teach them what their rights are and make sure they are getting them,” Carter said.

She points to this year’s Alaska State Fair as one of the group’s biggest successes. They worked with fair officials and the vendors to make sure the handicap accessibility requirements for the booths were enforced.

“It was wonderful to see this partnership with the fair and all the vendors getting into it,” she said. “It was really neat to see the community embrace that as a value that is important.”

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.