The Alaska Contractor - Summer 2008

Rural Alaska
As in urban Alaska, the interest in construction trades continues to increase.
Through the Denali Commission, AGC of Alaska has trained teachers and distributed
textbooks to 42 school districts this year. We are also providing funding or “seed
money” for sustainable building projects in nine schools from Klawock to Brevig Mission.
It’s much more than just a great idea.
Nenana
BY BLAIN MORRIS
Things at Nenana are moving right
along. Our boarding school, Nenana
Student Living Center, is now accepting
applications for the 2008-09 school
year. Currently, we have about 85 students
enrolled in vocational programs.
Classes include, welding (UAF dual/
credit approved), craft woods, small
engines/basic auto shop, construction
trades with CAD drafting, home economics,
culinary arts and bakery.
We’ve just finished remodeling our
new woods and construction trades
center and are very excited to be able
to expand into this new facility. Students
and staff are looking forward to
building multiple projects in the new
construction center. These will include
ATV trailers, storage sheds and snowmachine
trailers. (Funded by the Denali
Commission for sustainable projects.)
Nenana graduate Clayton Active of
Kongiganak was featured on the front
page of the Fairbanks Daily News Miner
while receiving training at the sixth
pipeline training class Nov. 15, 2007.
Nenana has many other graduates that
are excelling in the vocational fields
and apprenticeship programs throughout
the state.
The Nenana Student Living Center provides
housing for up to 88 high school students who
attend Nenana City High School. More than 40
communities throughout Alaska are represented.