AHAINA
Connection
The
Volume 3, Issue 2
HIGHLIGHTS:
 February is Black History
Month
 George T. Harper’s
“Blacks in Alaska” Exhibit
 UAA Campus Safety
 Office of Financial Aid
helps with the FAFSA
 AHAINA Supports Freshmen and Sophomores
 Congratulations Fall 2011
Graduates
 AHAINA Cultural Facts
Inside this issue:
“Blacks in Alaska”
Exhibit in Library
2
Your Safety is
Important
2
AHAINA Begins
Follow-Up Fridays
2
Office of Financial
Aid Promotes
FAFSA Frenzy
3
Freshman and
Sophomore
Success Meetings
3
AHAINA’s Fall
2011 Graduation
Ceremony
3
Cultural Facts
4
February 2012
The Multicultural Center Celebrates Black History Month
Page 2
The AHAINA Connection
The Multicultural Center Showcases Blacks in Alaska
George Harper’s “Blacks
in Alaska History”
exhibit on display in the
Consortium Library
AHAINA Juniors!
Come by the
George T. Harper was
born in Atlanta, Georgia, in
1930. He graduated from high
school in Cincinnati, Ohio in
1948, and then served in the
U.S. Navy. Harper later received a B. S. degree from
Chase College in 1960. He
then pursued a career in computer programming. Harper
first visited Alaska in 1980,
and later moved to Anchorage in 1981. He was a computer programmer for the
Bureau of Land Management,
until his retirement in 1992.
He also worked as a comput-
er consultant and taught computer classes at the University
of Alaska Anchorage. In 1989,
Harper created his first Black
History Month exhibit, and in
1992, created an exhibit honoring Black U.S. Army Engineers who constructed the
Alaska Highway during World
War II.
With the help of interested friends, Harper co-founded
the Blacks in Alaska History
Project, which was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1995. The purpose of
the project was to pursue
information and historical photographs documenting the
presence and contributions of
African Americans in Alaska,
maintain the resulting collection, and create exhibits and
lectures publicizing these historical resources. George Harper died in Anchorage, Alaska,
in 2004.
The Exhibit is open to students and the public in honor
of Black History Month, and
can be viewed at the UAA
Consortium Library during
library hours on the third floor.
Follow-Up With AHAINA on Fridays
honor in 2012?
sively. AHAINA will provide
the student planner and oneon-one assistance to participants as a way to identify the
best plan for accomplishing
tasks and goals. This action
also reinforces the importance
of reviewing all syllabi promptly at the beginning of the semester, identifying key information such as assignment due
dates, reading assignments for
each class session (that should
be completed before the class
session), course grade break-
Highlighted Figure
Keep Campus Safety A Priority
AHAINA office and
find out how you
can participate in
the Men and
Women of
Excellence
Program. Who will
be awarded the
Steven Chu, Scientist
AHAINA wants YOU to
be prepared, organized, and
avoid procrastination. We
can assist you in preparing for
your academic assignments
and weekly planning through
our new program “Follow-Up
Friday‟s.
Students are encouraged
to stop by the Multicultural
Center and meet with AHAINA staff and set up a semester planner with assignments
and due dates listed progres-
The Anchorage campus
provides opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to continuously learn about safety
practices and preparedness.
UAA strives to create safe and
secure environments where
students flourish. Some program highlights include: Safety
Tips, Basic Self Defense and
Disaster Response Training,
Safe Dating and Sexual Assault
Prevention, Campus Safety
Walk, Anchorage Emergency
Preparedness Fair, and UAA
Safety Resource Exhibit. Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend Safety Awareness
Month programs offered every
Fall semester during the month
of September. Students, faculty,
and staff are also invited to attend emergency preparedness
presentations offered throughout the year.
At the Anchorage campus,
University Police provide crime
prevention workshops to students and employees. University
Police offer workshops on per-
down, and instructor office
hours and contact information.
Follow-Up Fridays is open
for all students from 8:00am
until 5:00pm through the end
of the Spring 2012 semester.
Get preparation tips, study
skills advice, access to tutors,
and more. Preparation is key
to your success in college,
and we want to promote
your Goals, Grades, and
Graduation.
sonal safety, alcohol and drug
awareness, theft prevention,
moose safety, and rape awareness. University Police offer
courses each semester for
women on Rape Aggression
Defense (RAD). The Dean of
Students Office coordinates
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National
Network (RRAIN) Day during
the fall semester. The Dean of
Students Office also coordinates Domestic Violence &
Sexual Assault Awareness
Month each spring.
Volume 3, Issue 2
Page 3
Financial Aid Office Helps With FAFSA
Are you a first-time or
returning student? Need help
understanding the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA)? Confused about
what an appeal for reinstatement is?
Back by popular demand,
the Office of Student Financial Assistance will be offering
workshops designed to help
you complete the FAFSA and
navigate the financial aid process. The financial aid workshop includes a 30-minute
information presentation
offering advice on the finan-
cial aid process at UAA, including how to fill out the
FAFSA, what to look for on
the new 2012-2013 FAFSA
website and application, and
things to consider when applying for aid.
Attendees will then have
access to computers if they
wish to submit the FAFSA,
accept/decline loans via
UAOnline or complete Entrance Loan Counseling or
Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). This workshop is open to the public. All
are encouraged to attend,
including students, parents
and advisors. Bring your
2011 taxes and W-2‟s for
your 2012-2013 FAFSA or if
you already electronically
filed your taxes, the FAFSA
has a quick link to import
that information (give it
about two weeks before you
try it on the FAFSA).
"FAFSA Frenzy" is back! See
you there!
Visit the UAA Financial
Aid Website for dates.
Freshman Foundation and Sophomore Success
Freshman and Sophomore
are encouraged to attend the
monthly meetings targeted
toward each group of students. Each meeting allows
students to network with
each other and receive pertinent information about how
to achieve excellence as a
UAA student.
AHAINA is working
closely with students and
respective college advisors to
promote a more traditional
four-year track to students.
While it is understood that
each students circumstances
differ, focus on individual degree plans prove to be the
most efficient and productive
way to earn a baccalaureate
degree.
During the Freshman Foundation meetings, students are
provided information in a
small group format that
covers topics such as study
skills, time management,
classroom decorum and
engaging the professor.
Sophomore students
attend their meetings as an
extension to the Freshman
Foundation meetings. Information is geared toward
identifying a major for undeclared students, skill building,
volunteerism, and involvement in campus activities and
community involvement.
Join us in AHAINA for
the meeting that targets
your class. Additional information can be found on
AHAINA‟s activity calendar
at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/
multicultural/calendar/
index.cfm.
Build a Plan! Get through
college faster and at less
cost!
“Things do not
happen.
Things are
MADE to
happen”
-John F.
Kennedy
(1917-1963)
Fall 2011 Graduation Ceremony
AHAINA would like to
congratulate all of the Fall 2011
Graduates. Your success is an
example to those students that
are approaching their finish
line. The graduates in attendance received Associates of
Arts, Associates of Applied
Sciences, Bachelor of Arts,
Bachelor of Science, and various Graduate degrees.
Spring 2012 graduates,
remember to RSVP soon
for the May 5th ceremony!
“The greatest gift is
not being afraid to
question.”
-Ruby Dee
(1924-Present)
AHAINA Spring 2012 Graduation
AfricanAmerican
Hispanic
CONGRATULATIONS, SENIORS!
AHAINA will be celebrating students who have accomplished their goal of
acquiring their undergraduate and graduate degrees the Spring 2012
semester . We are excited and proud to have you join us at the AHAINA
Graduation Ceremony that will take place on May 5, 2012. You are
encouraged to also participate in the University Commencement on May 6,
2012. There will be more information to follow.
Cultural Facts
Asian/Pacific
Islander
International
Native
In China, Fengshui ("wind and water", or geomancy) is the art of placement and arrangement of cities, buildings, homes, rooms, graves, etc. so as to be in harmony with the forces of nature.
Tipping in Vietnam is not customary, but is appreciated. A 5-10% tip for a meal in a good restaurant
may equal a day‟s wages.
The majority of Spaniards are Catholic, though Spain is a secular state. For over 300 years, most of
Spain was Muslim. Parts of Spain were under Muslim rule until 1492 when the last Moorish king fell
(in Granada).
Ticos, as Costa Ricans are commonly referred to, possess a unique identity that differentiates them
from neighboring countries. Ninety-seven percent of the population is mestizo (mixed blood
generally Spanish with Native American) or of direct European descent.
The origins of the Cuban population include Spanish (over 35%), African (over 10%), mixed SpanishAfrican (over 50%), and Asian (over 1%).
Russia is the largest country in the world in area and spans Europe and Asia from west to East.
Because Russia encompasses so much land, it also exhibits a great diversity in geography and
ethnicities.
American

AHAINA Student
Programs
University of Alaska
Anchorage
Rasumson Hall, Suite
106
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, Alaska
99508
Contact:
T: 907-786-4070
F: 907-786-4079
January
AK Civil Rights Month
1/16 AK Civil Rights ans MLK Day
 1/17 Instruction Begins
 1/27 Add/Drop Deadline
February
Black History Month

 2/1 Black History Month Kick-Off
2/1-29 George T. Harper “Blacks in Alaska
Exhibit” in UAA Library
 2/9 Black History Month Jeopardy
 2/27 Summer „12 Registration Open

March
Women’s History Month
3/1 Deadline for Spring 2012 Application for
Graduation
 3/5 Summer „12 Open Registration Begins
 3/12-16 Spring Break-No Classes
 3/27 $175 Late Payment Fee Assessed
 3/30 Fall „12 Priority Registration Begins

April
4/6 Withdrawal Deadline
May
Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

 5/1-5 Final Exams
5/5 AHAINA Spring Graduation
 5/6 UAA Commencement
Schedules for Workshops, Freshman Foundation, Sophomore Success can be found in
AHAINA, and on the webpage at www.uaa.alaska.edu/multicultural.