Category: KPBSD District Stories

David Sanarov, Voznesenka School #ClassOf2018

Voznesenka David Sanarov Class of 2018

David Sanarov
Voznesenka School, Class of 2018

David Sanarov is the standout senior selected for 2017 – 2018 at Voznesenka School. He has game, humbleness, and an incredibly kind heart. David is the type of person that most of us want to aspire to become. David’s athleticism is an inherited family trait that did not skip any of the six boys in his family. When following in the enormous footsteps of his brothers one might think that there could be no way for David to also fill those shoes. Astonishingly, he was no exception to the talent that came before him.
David Sanarov- Cougar Football

  • 4x letter winner and team captain
  • 2x Peninsula Conference Defensive Player of the Year
  • All-State Linebacker and Return Specialist
  • 2x All-Conference Offense
  • Most decorated player in program history

 David was no stranger to media attention during his high school career. On the local level David was featured in the Homer News as the Senior Spotlight student, he was heavily covered at the State level in the Alaska Dispatch News, and on the National level he was given much attention in the New York Times.
“I had the fortunate pleasure of attending a Close Up trip to Washington D.C. and New York City with David as one of the students,” said Principal Michael Wojciak. “Being such a kind, polite, and thoughtful student his participation made the trip an even greater experience for myself and our other chaperone Ksenia Kuzmin who similarly gives David high praise as a student, community member, and family member. It is hard to imagine, but David was an elementary student when I first started my position as the principal of Voznesenka School. He is certainly a student that I will never forget, mostly for his humility and overwhelmingly positive personality. His career will take him in the direction of his family’s commercial fishing business, where he will eventually become a boat owner, permit holder, and captain. We wish him safety, good health, and prosperity as he disembarks from Voznesenka School.”

Desmond Moon, Tebughna School, #ClassOf2018

Desmond Moon

Tebughna School, Class of 2018

Desmond Moon is Tebughna School’s Student Body President. “But he is so much more than that—he is thoughtful, intelligent, patient, kind, fun to be around, a fabulous leader and a great role model,” said Principal Pamela Potter.

Mr. Desmond says, “So many people helped me throughout my life. I want to thank my parents, my siblings, and all my teachers through the years. In tough times, I turn to my sister Christy. My parents taught me to be respectful, and I believe we all should lead by a higher standard. I enjoy guitar, video games, hobbies, hanging with friends, and working on building things.
In the future, I see myself independent, self-sufficient, employed in construction, and married with a wife and three children.
His advice to younger students: “Stay positive. Do not slack off along the way. Listen to your teachers. Be respectful.”
“Tebughna School is so proud of Desmond. We hope you always remember to follow your dreams,” said Principal Potter. Congratulations on your graduation!
Connect with Tebughna School on Facebook

Heleana Backus, Seward High School #ClassOf2018

Seward High School Heleana Backus

Heleana Backus
Seward High School, Class of 2018

Heleana Backus was a member of the Seward High School Debate, Drama, and Forensics Team, Student Council, and the National Honor Society. However, she wrote that, “The most pivotal points in my development as a thinker and human being have happened in the English classroom.” It was this passion for literature that prompted her to apply for and be elected as the Student Representative on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s English/Language Arts Curriculum Review Committee. Her work on this committee prompted teachers and leaders, from across the District to nominate her for the District’s Golden Apple award.
They wrote, “Heleana’s willingness to participate in creating a strong foundation for future students make her an excellent candidate for the Golden Apple award. Her work will leave a lasting impression in our district and help guide our district’s growth and improvement for many years to come.” Of her own experience with the process, she wrote, “I push myself towards [my] goals with this constantly in mind: conformity can no longer be taught under the guise of public education. I am actively helping to integrate this idea into the classroom with the ELA curriculum committee, but I want to take that further. I strive to bring the vision that the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has for personalizing education to every school.” The Golden Apple was awarded at the May 7, 2018 School Board Meeting in Seward.
When she is not reading, she is most likely working the pottery wheel in the Art Room. The quality of her work prompted Ms. Waggoner, her art teacher, to select Heleana for the Master Potter Award. She has also found commercial success participating in her own First Friday Art Show in Seward on June 1, 2018.
Heleana graduated with a 4.126 Grade Point Average and as Seward High’s Class of 2018 Valedictorian. She is planning to attend Whitman College in Washington, where she will pursue a Secondary Teaching Degree in English and Language Arts.
Seward High School website
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District www.KPBSD.org
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Olivia Delgado, Ninilchik School #ClassOf2018

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Olivia Delgado
Ninilchik School, Class of 2018

Olivia Delgado graduated this year as the Valedictorian with a cumulative GPA of 4.0. She studied at Ninilchik School for 12 years and from sixth grade on always earned A grades. During her valedictorian speech, she talked about how it is important to move forward and learn from our mistakes, and that people tend to learn more from trying something and failing than not trying at all. Olivia was active in many activities at Ninilchik. She invested time helping with elementary basketball and also took care of the books for many of the middle school and high school basketball games. Olivia lettered in both volleyball and basketball all four years. She was a quiet leader; she led more by example than by her words. She always had a kind word when she met up with the younger kids in the elementary.
Olivia has dreams of becoming a nurse—a field where caring and kindness is important as knowing how to perform your job with excellence. She will be attending Kenai Peninsula College before transitioning to the UAA pre-nursing program.
Connect on Facebook with Ninilchik School
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District www.KPBSD.org

Aaron McCollum, Nikiski Middle-High School #ClassOf2018

Nikiski High School Aaron McCollum Class of 2018

Aaron McCollum
Nikiski Middle-High School, Class of 2018

Aaron McCollum is a student who has positively influenced the staff, students and community of Nikiski. Aaron has excelled in academics, athletics, and leadership activities in his time at NMHS. He does not always do things the traditional way, which sums up his leadership activities. Aaron was able to lead his peers through multiple Student Led Education (Ed) Camps (SLEC) in an activity he first learned when he was a sophomore in Darren Zibell’s World History class, Micro Nations. He presented different strategies and information in this venue to fellow students while playing the popular board game, Risk. Only this time it had a twist: it was Human Risk where the participants acted out the fictional battles on stage with the culminating event being a Nerf Battle version of Capture the Flag. He consistently had 35 to 40 students sign up for his SLEC, which was a testament to his leadership skills.
Athletically, his abilities were on full display at Track and Field State Championships. He completed his career as a three time state champion (triple jump and as the anchor to the 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams). Most notably, his triple jump state championship came on the final jump of his high school career, a 41’1” personal record. Aaron has enlisted in the Army as a satellite communications specialist and after his commitment is complete, will enroll in Embry Riddle Aeronautical University to study engineering. “With his demonstrated leadership abilities, I am proud to have Aaron graduate from Nikiski High and serve our country in the United States Army,” said Principal Dan Carstens. Congratulations, Aaron!
Facebook: Nikiski Middle-High School
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District www.KPBSD.org
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Verina Ukatish, Nanwalek School #ClassOf2018

Nanwalek Verina Ukatish Class of 2018

Verina Ukatish
Nanwalek School, Class of 2018

Verina Ukatish is the Nanwalek Class of 2018 Valedictorian. When faced with life challenges, Verina takes those head on and most often with a smile. She is an excellent advocate for herself and a role model for her peers. She has worked in many youth and community programs, including the Nanwalek Summer Youth Program, the Kenatize Tribe Workforce Intern Program at their Head Start Program, many Project GRAD sponsored activities including Summer College Institute, Career Institute, and Leadership Institute. She has been active in Kenai Peninsula Native Youth Leadership Program and served as the Nanwalek KPNYL Student Advisor Assistant and one of their representatives at the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference in 2016.
Verina is planning to take a gap year, and then going to school to become a certified nurse’s assistant. She has an entrepreneurial and creative spirit that she hopes to use after graduation by opening a coffee cart in Nanwalek. When Verina makes up her mind to do something she will not let anything stand in the way. She has already contributed so much to her school, peers, family, and community it will be exciting to see her continue to grow as a leader.
Facebook: Nanwalek School
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District www.KPBSD.org

Amber Bridgeman, Homer Flex School, Class of 2018

Homer Flex Amber Bridgeman Class of 2018

Amber Bridgeman
Homer Flex School, Class of 2018

During her junior year, due to unforeseen circumstances, Amber Bridgeman faced the tough decision to follow her family to Hawaii or stay in Alaska to complete her high school diploma. She opted to transfer to Homer Flex, and she made the most of her decision. Amber quickly demonstrated that she possesses the maturity to manage both her personal life and school on her own. A hard worker and an organized student, Amber decided to take Jumpstart courses during her senior year at the Kachemak Bay Campus. This self-motivation and commitment to her future inspired the students around her, and has guided her on the path to post-secondary education in the health sciences.
Amber will attend a CNA program in Anchorage this summer. Granted full funding to complete the program through a migrant education scholarship, Amber plans to continue her post-secondary education at UAA-KBC in the nursing program next year. She is also the recipient of the Kachemak Bay Rotary Club’s Vocational Scholarship as well as the Homer Emblem Club #350’s Scholarship. Given her determination and focus, there is no doubt that she will find success.
Facebook: Homer Flex School
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District www.KPBSD.org

Brittany Gilman, Kenai Central High School #ClassOf2018

Kenai Central High School Brittany Gilman Class of 2018

Brittany Gilman
Kenai Central High School, Class of 2018

It was 1972 when Brittany Gilman’s KPBSD legacy began. Her grandmother Marj was a teacher in the school district followed by many other family members. It is now 2018 and Brittany is the last to follow the rest of siblings and parents as being a KPBSD graduate.
Beginning with Sears Elementary Brittany has attended KPBSD schools since Kindergarten. Thinking back, she remembers fondly Mr. and Mrs. Knudsen in Elementary school and Rosemary Bird in Junior High. She describes them as teaching love and empathy: “you could tell they cared about you outside the classroom,” she says. She is an excellent example of stellar academics, is musically gifted, and is very involved in the community. Brit is one of the KCHS valedictorians; she is the first chair of sopranos in Chamber Choir, she served on student council every year, earned All-State choir titles, and was the only Alaska student at Nationals her junior year. Performing at Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera house with the Honors Performance Series is the highlight of her high school career.
As this community has been important to her family for so many years, Brittney has involved herself in four to six plays a year with Kenai Performers, Triumvirate Theatre, and Encore Dance Studios. She is also involved in church activities and volunteers as needed for a variety of events.
Brittany will continue her education at New York University, majoring in Music Education. She intends to obtain a K-12 certification in Music Education and become a Choir teacher. Looking back on her time in KPBSD and the teachers she has worked with she says, “I love them, I do, everyone is so sweet and they teach good family values and they highlight the importance of education and where it can take you.”
Principal Alan Fields said, “KCHS will miss you Brittany, but we are so proud of your accomplishments and what your future holds.”
Kenai Central High School Facebook
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District www.KPBSD.org

Suzanne LaBelle, Port Graham School #ClassOf2018

Port Graham School Suzanne LaBelle Class of 2018

Suzanne LaBelle
Port Graham School, Class of 2018

Suzanne LaBelle is the Port Graham School Class of 2018 Valedictorian. Suzanne is compassionate and curious, traits that will serve her well in the future. When opportunities come Suzanne’s way, she rarely lets them go by without grabbing on. She has participated in numerous extracurricular leadership skills programs including a Chugach School District Voyage to Excellence camp where she rode 300 miles on bike in California. She was also the very first high school cross-country athlete to represent Port Graham School. When she thinks about being the first in her village to do this she states, “I felt really accomplished in being the first cross country athlete in Port Graham. I want other students to put themselves out there and participate in new experiences.”
In the fall, she will be attending the University of Alaska Anchorage to pursue a nursing degree. She understands that nursing is one of the most competitive fields to get into, but also one of the most highly needed—especially in Alaska. Someday she hopes to use her degree in pediatrics or another specialization. If Suzanne continues to explore the world and take chances in order to grow, there is nothing she cannot accomplish.
Connect with Port Graham School on Facebook
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District www.KPBSD.org

Superintendent Dusek on Borough Special Assembly Meeting

KPBSD logo 4c todaySuperintendent Dusek invites you to contact your Borough Assembly representative for your district, or attend the Borough Special Assembly Meeting on July 6, 2018, at 6:00 PM, to offer your comments about funding for Kenai Peninsula K-12 schools, and the $652k funding veto for the school year beginning July 1, 2018.

The Borough special assembly meeting action items will discuss:

  • Mayor’s FY19 Budget Line Item Veto School District Operations $652,609
  • Mayor’s FY19 Budget Line Item Veto Peninsula Promotions $206,000

“All interested persons are invited to attend the meeting. Written comments may be emailed to assemblyclerk@kpb.us or mailed to the Assembly, c/o Borough Clerk, 144 N. Binkley Street, Soldotna, AK 99669.”
Superintendent Dusek wants you to know:

“While I am disappointed with the Mayor’s veto of $652,609, I am confident that the Mayor and Assembly support KPBSD and have made a significant investment already, for which we are very thankful. We support the other entities that the borough funds because we are all a part of the larger puzzle that provides an excellent place to live and work. The positive results we get support the economic engine in this borough—and others are able to share that information to attract visitors and new families to the peninsula to promote more growth.”

Why is the $652k important now?
Superintendent Dusek explains,

“The school district was going to specifically utilize these additional funds to address mental health issues with younger students—schools have responsibility now more than ever for wrap-a-round services to support students to be ready to learn, and to provide a safe learning environment. We had set plans in motion for the $652k to hire three itinerant elementary counselors to begin serving our students when school starts in August, and contract with one clinical psychologist. Additionally, our intent was to contract with a school safety specialist to review our schools. The remainder would help offset the remaining deficit after our fund balance usage.”

KPBSD FY19 Deficit and Budget Update (June 27, 2018)
Since 2015, the school district has been making budget reductions, and used General Fund Balance reserves to offset deficits totaling $12,575,312 million.
FY19 KPBSD deficit:                                     3,356,161
Planned Use of General Fund Balance:          1,318,109
Additional one-time funds from State:           1,405,152*
*this one-time funding allowed KPBSD to keep current pupil-teacher ratios (PTR) in classrooms
In late June, the school district learned about potential funds from the State of Alaska related to a PERS and TRS forfeiture from the state for defined contributions for employees spanning a twelve-year period. The district is awaiting details and guidance from the state for the actual portion of the $945,275.36 that could become a “credit on the books” and reassigned to the general fund.
Superintendent Dusek states,

“I believe in the future of this borough and look forward to working with the Mayor and Assembly to develop a fiscally responsible, long-term plan to continue to grow our communities. The future is bright and I believe this because I get to work with our future everyday–our students.”

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The Future is Bright in KPBSD
 
KPBSD will inspire all learners to pursue their dreams in a rigorous, relevant and responsive environment.