People We Know: June 19, 2016

• Gabrielle Zaleski, a former Wasilla resident and graduate of Colony High School, has been selected as the 2016 Louisiana National Miss. Zaleski will attend the 2016 America’s National Teenager Scholarship Pageant in Atlanta, Georgia, in July. Zaleski is currently a junior at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, where she is majoring in health sciences with a focus on pharmacy. Zaleski, 20, is the daughter of Tye and Ben Zaleski, of Wasilla.

• Brandon L. Olson of Wasilla graduated from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Arizona on May 6, 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and programming. He received Alpha Beta Kappa and summa cum laude honors and was named to the dean’s list in all semesters with a 4.0 GPA. Olson will begin pursuing a master’s degree this fall.

• Jennifer Bray of Wasilla graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska with a Master of Education degree on May 7, 2016.

• Collin Christiansen, of Palmer, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, on May 7, 2016.

• Jenna B. Ford of Wasilla was named to the honor roll at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina for the 2016 spring semester. Ford is pursuing an undergraduate degree in physical education.

• Colony High School 2016 graduates Dakota Peterson-Thompson and Morgan Chapman were each awarded $2,000 scholarships by the Mat-Su Branch of the Association of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to pursue careers in engineering.

• Mackenzie Rose Boardman of Wasilla graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts on May 27, 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

• Rebecca Steele-Mackey, of Wasilla, and Cassidy Evans and Saige Stefanski, both of Palmer, have been named to the dean’s list for the 2016 spring semester at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. Steele-Mackey is a junior mathematics major, Evans is a junior pre-athletic training major, and Stefanski is a senior business major.

• Jonathon Wolfe, a 2016 graduate of Wasilla High, was awarded a $10,000 BP scholarship to pursue a degree in process technology through the University of Alaska.

• Palmer High School graduate Eva Bingham, Houston High School graduate John Koeneman and Burchell High School graduate Caleb Beauvais each were awarded a $4,000 BP Principals scholarship.

• Levi Farris, Branden Lindseey, Sara Oomittuk and James Rogers, of Palmer; and Taia Fagerstrom, Keith Perry and Corbin Wolford, of Wasilla; are participating in the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Acceleration Academy at UAA.

• Teresa Kennedy, of Wasilla, was recently initiated into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi at the United States Naval Academy.

• Steven Alexander Kessler, of Wasilla, has been named to the dean’s list for the 2016 spring semester at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

• Gus Dubetz, of Wasilla, has been named to the dean’s list for the 2016 spring semester at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota.