UAA celebrates 2024 spring graduation

ANCHORAGE — University of Alaska Anchorage celebrated its students’ successes during the Spring 2024 Commencement ceremony held at the Alaska Airlines Center Sunday, May 5.

During the ceremony, University of Alaska System President Pat Pitney commended the 2024 graduates for all their resilience and perseverance.

“I've seen firsthand the challenges that students face and the sacrifices they make to get here today,” Pitney said. “I hope you're proud of this accomplishment and take the time to thank those who supported you throughout your academic journey. As you turn the page to your next journey, enjoy this moment but remember the experience. Remember the people you've met. Remember the mentors you've gained when you take the foundation from this point further in your life… Some of you will take it to other countries, some of you will take it to the rest of the nation, but I really hope- because Alaska needs you- I really hope you will invest your time and your commitment into Alaska. You are our future, you are the economic engine of Alaska's future and your commitment to your community will make such a difference to our state going forward. Whatever path you follow, bring UAA with you.”

UAA graduate school Dean Mary Jo Finney introduced student speaker Barbara Kahula and spoke highly of her inspirational story getting to this important day.

“While graduate school is an opportunity for many to pursue, it is a journey that few undertake,” Finney said. “From her childhood dreams to heartbreaking loss through formidable challenges- she's a model of courage, perseverance, compassion, and grace.”

Kahula is a Wasilla High School graduate who currently lives in Anchorage. She said that she's proud to be a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and she's proud of her Indigenous identity.

“Reclaiming my indigenous identity as an adult has not been easy but then again, I've learned in life nothing worth doing in life is easy. I may have been born on tribal land, but because of intergenerational trauma I was not raised near the Choctaw culture but neither was my father, but his sister was willing to connect me with the tribe. Without her and the tribe, I would not be standing here before you today as a college graduate,” Kahula said.

Kahula said that she watched her parents struggle with substance abuse disorder. She said that she and her siblings experienced homelessness, neglect, and eventually their parents' incarceration.

“These are the factors that led me to believe someone like me couldn't go to college. I didn't have any money. I didn't know the terminology. I didn't have anything. But when I graduated from Wasilla High School, I had some amazing mentors that encouraged me to go back to school anyways,” Kahula said.

Kahula said she was able to find a career path that she felt passionate about. She said that she continued to find positive encouragement along the way until finally reaching graduation.

“Nothing ever fit right until I found my way to the front desk of a tax accounting office, and I was hooked. My boss convinced me to go back to school promising to help me navigate the payments this time… I attribute much of that love to the examples of passion I have seen in the accounting community. I have never met a more kind, philanthropic, and ethical group of people,” Kahula said. “Here at UAA, faculty like Professor Orley, Professor Straley, and Dr. Stephenson continued to mentor and inspire me and in December of 2022, I proudly walked across this very stage, my BBA in hand as a first-generation college graduate. I was so happy. It was finally after three long years, I was finally done with school. Which I guess actually leads me to why I'm up here as the graduate speaker today.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com