The 32nd Annual Valdez Theatre Conference wrapped up another successful year. Forty-seven playwrights from across America gathered to celebrate and analyze how to write effective plays.
Lars Dickson participated in the Skills USA national power equipment competition, competing against the top student technicians nationwide in hands-on labs and a written test created by the Equipment & Engine Training Council (EETC) and industry sponsors.
Hannah Bogdan, a recent graduate of PWSC, is making the most of her summer by pursuing two exciting and fulfilling endeavors. During the day, Hannah guides adventurous tourists through exhilarating rapids, sharing her passion for the great outdoors as a river guide. She is a dedicated researcher studying biofouling on oyster farms on her days off.
We interviewed Susan Slocum Dyer, a participant in our Environmental Science for Teachers course. During the week-long course in Cordova, students explored environmental issues affecting Alaskan communities. We were interested in Susan's thoughts on her experience.
The Marine Ecology for Teachers program at PWSC is specifically tailored for non-science teachers interested in learning about marine ecosystem relationships and gaining place-based, culturally responsive knowledge, awareness, and practical skills. The annual May course includes kayaking, touring Solomon Gulch Hatchery, learning about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and exploring marine ecology field techniques in Valdez, Alaska.
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th, marking a critical moment in American history. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth commemorates the liberation of enslaved African Americans and represents the ongoing struggle for freedom, equality, and justice.
In late May, Isaac Stevens, an outdoor leadership student at PWSC, completed a 14-day, 150-mile kayaking expedition from Whittier, AK, to Valdez, AK, as part of his program's capstone project. The experience was both challenging and rewarding.
Today, we celebrate our oceans' incredible beauty and importance. We are committed to ocean conservation and sustainability. Our unique location provides us with a living laboratory to study marine life, ecosystem dynamics, and the impacts of climate change. Our students and faculty actively engage in research and projects that aim to protect and preserve our precious marine environment.
Dr. Benjamin Rush's connection to Taiwan is not just a passing phase. Before moving to Alaska, he directed the outdoor leadership program at the University of Taiwan. His passion for the outdoors and his desire to bridge cultures through shared experiences led him, PWSC, and his former college in Taiwan to create unique travel experiences. This summer, their efforts pay off as they successfully organize two non-credit kayak trips for the first time, offering a one-of-a-kind adventure.
During a content-rich week, participants immerse themselves in classroom and field exercises to deepen teaching pedagogy. Teachers will walk away with lesson plans, resources, tools to help fit the curriculum into a classroom or virtual learning environment, and examples of place-based lesson planning.
