PEOPLE WE KNOW: May 28, 2017

• The Mat-Su chapter of the Alaska Peace Officers Association recently announced two scholarship awards in the amount of $1,500 each presented to Valley residents, Kiana Verplancke and Hilary Stark. Both are students at the University of Alaska Anchorage. According to an APOA press release, “The women distinguished themselves through several factors in the application process. The members of the Mat-Su APOA wish them continued success.

According to the release, the Mat-Su APOA is an organization made up of local, state, and federal criminal justice professionals. To contribute to the continued improvement of our profession and the community we serve, we are offering competitive academic scholarships. The chapter will award up to two $1500 scholarships to students pursuing educational goals with a career in the criminal justice field as the objective. Applications are accepted from Jan. 1 through March 31 of each year. Application packets can be obtained on-line at www.apoaonline.org

• Elizabeth Washam of Wasilla graduated from the University of Kansas this spring with a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance.

• Cameron Christiansen of Palmer graduated from Concordia University in Nebraska on May 6. Christiansen received a bachelor of arts degree.

• Angela Kesler of Palmer this spring received a Mat-Su Health Foundation academic scholarship in the amount of $13,300. Kesler is a student in Trine University’s doctor of physical therapy program. The scholarship is for the 2017-18 school year. Kesler was one of 128 who received academic scholarships totaling $721,400 from the foundation, according to a news release. During the scholarship application process, Kesler wrote an essay outlining her career goals and the ways in which the outcomes will improve public health overall.

• Drake Halfacre, a graduating senior from Mat-Su Career and Technical High School, won a $10,000 BP scholarship to pursue a degree in process technology through the University of Alaska. According to a news release, the process technology program is designed to provide education and training that will enable individuals to obtain employment in the industries that use and control mechanical, physical, or chemical processes, such as oil and gas.

• Three Valley high school seniors —Sierra Imoe of Wasilla High School, Payton Martin of Palmer High School and Isaac Smoldon of Houston High School — each received a $4,000 scholarship and are among 25 winners of the BP Principals Scholarship program statewide. According to a news release, since 1985 BP has awarded more than $3.8 million to 825 Alaska students who have excelled in academics and community service.