The Northwestern Alaska Career and Technical Center (NACTEC) staff was elated to attend a donation ceremony with NACTEC’s governing board on Friday, September 18 to accept a monetary donation from Siu Alaska Corporation. In attendance were Bering Strait School District (BSSD) board member Melvin “Dumma” Otton, Nome Public Schools (NPS) board members Betsy Brennan and Lynette Schmidt, Northwest Campus director Lee Haugen and BSSD Superintendent Jim Hickerson.

After addressing the crowd and expressing appreciation to NACTEC for providing vocational education in the Bering Strait region, Siu Alaska Corporation Chairman Don Stiles presented a check in the amount of $200,000 to NACTEC director Doug Walrath. After acceptance speeches from both BSSD Superintendent Hickerson and the NACTEC director, NACTEC governing board member representing BSSD, Melvin “Dumma” Otton also expressed appreciation recalling when NACTEC was only a vision during discussions at BSSD school board meetings.

Also present were Siu board members Dan Harrelson of White Mountain, Harvey Sookiayak of Shaktoolik, and Siu President John Eckels. Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) CEO Janis Ivanoff was also in the audience to support its wholly owned subsidiary Siu Alaska Corporation.

NACTEC has been successfully operating since 2003 and funded through various grant sources, including most recently H.B. 61. Alaska state lawmakers approved H.B. 61 this year expanding state tax credits for approved secondary vocational education. Siu Alaska Corporation has contributed $200,000 to the NACTEC program. This is a tax credit benefit for businesses or others that contribute to vocational education through a local school, school district or state-funded vocational program.

The NACTEC program is a joint venture regional vocational training center located in Nome. The goal is to prepare students for the world of work after high school. The continued development and success of NACTEC has been accomplished through cooperation and partnerships with the Bering Strait School District, Nome Public Schools, Northwest Campus/University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kawerak, Inc., Bering Straits Native Corporation, Norton Sound Health Corporation, the sixteen regional communities of Brevig Mission, Elim, Gambell, Golovin, Koyuk, Little Diomede, Nome, Savoonga, Shaktoolik, Shishmaref, St. Michael, Stebbins, Teller, Unalakleet, Wales and White Mountain, the Nome Common Council and the Alaska Department of Labor.

Thank you to Siu Alaska Corporation and NSEDC for showing support to NACTEC!

For more information about the NACTEC program, visit its website at nacteconline.org.