No Joke – Aly’s Headed to Fairbanks!

Being somewhat prone to gullibility, I fear April Fool’s Day. I regard any and all information received on that day with extreme skepticism. Thus, it was hard at first to accept the email Aly received this morning:

“Congratulations Aly! You have been accepted in the Alaska Summer Research Academy [ASRA] for 2010. You have been placed in the Archaeology module as a residential student.

“We are very pleased to announce that you have been awarded a New York Life scholarship. This award covers the cost of the program as well as transportation to Fairbanks.

“You are one of nine students chosen in the state of Alaska—this is quite an honor. We look forward to meeting you in July.”

No joke: our unschooling daughter applied for, and has been placed in the University of Alaska’s summer youth program on a full ride scholarship! We are so proud!

ASRA received a record number of applications this year. Aly beat out some serious competition, mostly from public school students. She did it on her own. We suggested edits in the two essays she wrote, but all the work was hers. She asked for and received two character references from people in Haines with whom she worked. They deserve credit, too!

The archaeology module will spend a week in the field on Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, and a week at the UAF museum. The field work will investigate a group of Athabaskan families who worked for a mining company in the area in the mid-1940s.

This will be an excellent chance for her to sample college life, to see if it’s right for her before we all start pumping money into a school.

Since Michelle and I were public-schooled, we sometimes get anxious about Aly being at the head of her class . . . of one. This successful application indicates that she is achieving on par with her more formally educated peers. She’s competing, and winning!

So, now, once again, we have to brace for our little girl going away! We survived her People-to-People Youth Ambassador trip to Australia in 2007, I think we can survive this one, too.

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One Response to No Joke – Aly’s Headed to Fairbanks!

  1. Lyern Riedl says:

    Dear Aly, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I couldnt be prouder and Archeology (sp?) what a fabulous subject.
    I could have easily done that, but now I have to confine myself to
    thrift shops and the beach. So follow your heart my dear! I will be
    excited to hear about all your escapades or is that excavations!!
    Keep up the good work. All my love, GAL

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