Scholarship will aid future job pursuits

I am grateful to be awarded the Gabriel LeBlanc Memorial Vocational Scholarship. Through this scholarship, I will be able to make my dream of becoming a process technology operator on the North Slope possible. Next year, I am going to attend Kenai Peninsula College. I want to earn an 

undergraduate welding certification and an associate’s degree in process technology. Having a welding certification will give me more job options in the future. I feel that having both of these skills on my resume will help me find a rewarding job on the North Slope that will allow me to achieve my goal of providing for myself and my future family. 

I would not be able to attend college without the help of this scholarship. It will allow me to focus on my studies at Kenai Peninsula College instead of worrying about how to pay for tuition. It will also help me get the training I need to pursue a career in the oil and gas field. Receiving this scholarship has made a major difference in my ability to continue my education and move forward with my career goals. 

I am very thankful for the opportunity this scholarship provides, and I appreciate the support from the donors and the scholarship committee for choosing me for this honor. I will work hard to make the most of this opportunity and to represent this scholarship well through my education and future career. 

Sincerely,

Jack Witten

Scholarship conveys community support

I am writing to give my sincere thanks to the Homer Foundation, its Selection Committee, and the Wambach family for the Diane Wambach “Shoot for the Stars” scholarship. I am truly grateful and deeply appreciate being given this honor.

I am actively working toward a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and may go on to a master’s degree, whose expense will be greatly lessened with this scholarship’s aid. This scholarship doesn’t just provide financial aid but also conveys the support of my community.

Seldovia has shaped me, but careers are limited in such a small town, and it is my hope to one day return and live in this wonderful community again. I could not have done this without them, and I am deeply committed to returning one day to work remotely. This generous scholarship will allow me to dedicate much more time and effort to achieving that goal.

Thank you not only for charity, but also for your continued support of students and the communities in the Homer area. I cannot undersell my gratitude and will do my best to make full use of this scholarship.

With sincere appreciation,

Michael J. Geagel

Scholarship supports student goals

I am writing to express my gratitude to the Homer Foundation and the donors behind the LFI Scholarship for their generous support of my education. Receiving this scholarship means a great deal to me and will help me make my goals more achievable as I continue my education at Montana State University pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. 

Growing up in Homer taught me the importance of hardwork, community, and giving back. Over the past few years, I have worked to build and operate my own window washing business, through which I have earned valuable experiences in responsibility, communication and perseverance. 

As I begin college this fall, this scholarship will help ease financial burdens like tuition, housing and other educational expenses I can expect. 

What makes the LFI Scholarship especially meaningful to me is its focus on determination, character and goal-setting. Knowing that members of my own community believe in students like me is incredibly motivating and reminds me how fortunate I am to come from a place that provides these kinds of opportunities. 

I am deeply thankful to the Homer Foundation and the generous donors who make these opportunities possible. Your support not only helps students financially, but also encourages us to continue working hard and striving toward our goals. I truly appreciate your investment in my future and the futures of so many students in our community. 

Sincerely, 

Caden Latta

Community organizations provide a steady hand for students’ futures

Even coming from a town like Homer where art is appreciated, admired, and cultivated, going into the arts can be daunting. It makes me all the more grateful to the Ptarmigan Arts Scholarship Fund and the Homer Foundation for their generosity and dedication towards providing a steady hand to the students making their first steps towards their futures.

I, like many others who grew up here, want to give back to the community that has supported me and helped me become the person I am today. I will do my best to honor the generous gifts and excellent guidance I’ve received, from this scholarship and from a vast number of other instances where Homer has helped me.

The effort it takes to amass the amount of money that the Homer Foundation helps distribute to students every year does not go unnoticed. Every student who applies and earns an award sees it, every donor who gives to the Foundation puts their own time into it, and every Homerite who knows a student or someone who helps make these scholarships possible sees it.

The assurance I feel towards my future and the relief of every student who has received help is all thanks to the effort of the Homer Foundation, the Ptarmigan Arts Scholarship Fund, and every other organization and individual who has put so much into providing for Homer’s students. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Sincerely,

Sierra Mullikin

Please drive safely this summer

I am a frequent driver on the Sterling Highway. In the wintertime, I deal with snow, icy roads, moose crossings, wind gusts and limited daylight. I prefer driving in the winter because there is less traffic. 

Summer is here. The weather is milder, but the human factor is my challenge. According to a report from the State of Alaska, “The number one causes of accidents on the Seward and Sterling Highways are driver inattention and unsafe speed for conditions.” 

Lots of buses, trucks, campers, motorcycles, and automobiles. On Memorial Day weekend, three people lost their lives on the Seward Highway. Every summer, the number of accidents, injuries and deaths rises as the travel season picks up. 

Aside from the inattention factor (cell phones and drowsiness), the danger I see is the speed at which drivers are going. And for what? So, they can get behind a big old camper. I can only imagine the frustration they feel after working so hard to move ahead in the line. 

I was once like that. But after I had kids, I changed my driving habits. I now set the cruise control at 62 mph (still over the 55 mph limit) and remind myself to be patient and understanding. I appreciate the slow vehicle turnouts for slow-moving traffic and use them more and more. I wish drivers going 45 mph would use the turnouts. My new goal is not to get upset with those drivers, but it is a work in progress. 

For now, getting from point A to point B is slow and steady. Getting somewhere faster is a needless effort because we’re all going to get to where we’re headed, one way or another. 

As Simon and Garfunkel sing, “Slow down, you move too fast; you got to make the morning last.” Besides, by going a little slower and paying attention, you might just save a life, and it might be yours. 

Drive safely.


Alex Koplin

Conference creates community for writers

In May, Homer sees an influx of birds, birders and writers. This year, writers of all stripes gathered for the 25^th Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference. For four days, award-winning writers taught, read from their work and discussed the writing life. But the conference isn’t just a chance to learn, it’s a chance for participants to create a community that will inspire them when they return home. For several nights during the conference, members of the community join in, attending free readings and leaving inspired as well.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the hospitality folks from places of lodging, restaurants, stores and more for being so lovely and supportive of the writers while they are visiting Homer. I’d also like to thank the incredible staff, faculty and administration of the Kachemak Bay Campus of the Kenai Peninsula College who make it possible for us to show off this beautiful place we live and the beautiful campus right downtown. Throw in the support of the Homer Independent Press, KBBI, and the Aspen Suites Hotel, and you can see why I am so grateful for our wonderful community.

In the past 25 years, the conference has only raised its registration fee twice. We depend on the generosity of donors who help us bridge the gap between what is earned through registration and what is needed to support such a world-class faculty. I’d like to acknowledge and thank these donors from the bottom of my heart. They are each listed on the conference’s website at writersconf.kpc.alaska.edu/sponsors/.

The writers who take part in the conference leave with increased skill to tell their stories. A diversity of stories makes our whole culture richer and more interesting. Thank you to everyone involved for their support in hosting the largest and longest running writers’ conference in Alaska. We couldn’t do it without you!

Sincerely,


Erin Coughlin Hollowell
Director of the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference

Scholarship award makes a huge difference

I am writing to sincerely thank the Homer Foundation and the Nikki Geragotelis (Fry) Memorial Scholarship Committee for supporting my education. As a student from Homer who will be attending Washington State University and pursuing a dual major in psychology and criminology, this scholarship has made a huge difference in helping me afford college and focus on my studies. 

Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me. Beyond the financial support, it reminds me that my community believes in me and the goals I am working toward. Knowing that I have that support motivates me to work hard and make the most of the opportunities I have been given. 

Growing up in Homer has shaped who I am and the values I carry with me. My interest in psychology and criminology comes from wanting to better understand people, the challenges they face and how communities can support positive change. Through my education, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills needed to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. 

I am incredibly grateful to the donors and committee members who make scholarships like this possible. Your generosity helps students pursue their goals and creates opportunities that might not otherwise be available. Thank you for investing in my future and in the future of students throughout our community. 

Sincerely, 

Keagan Niebuhr