Ilisagvik College Commencement 2012

Last night we got to see our friends at the college receive the the certificates and degrees they had been working towards.

The ceremony was very unique in the dress, music, speakers, and the program as a whole. The ceremony began with the processional, but not you're usual pomp and circumstance, the students walked in to eskimo drumming and wearing their cap and gowns over traditional eskimo wear. Most had mukluks on and some of the girls in the ceremony skipped the gown completely and wore traditional eskimo shirts instead.

There were student speakers and we even got to hear from the only motivational speaker on the north slope, John Baker, the 2011 Iditarod Winner. He encouraged people to work towards their goals even through tough times.

When each of the students were presented with their diploma or certificate, we heard their name and who their parents are. That's small town living for you. Students received everything from GED's to Associates of Arts Degrees to certificates in Business, Inupiaq Studies, and workplace success.

It was interesting to hear how proud the people of this town of having their own place to educate their community after high school.

After the 2-hour ceremony, there was food and Eskimo dancing! The professor of Inupiaq studies and her students led a dance in the traditional eskimo style. Each of the dances represent a different part of eskimo life, there is one about getting a new bow and arrow, scraping seal skin, and even avoiding mosquitos.