The past year has been full of challenges. And yet it was also an amazing display of resiliency. Our students – all 388 of them – pushed on through the changes and the uncertainty, bravely continuing to pursue their educational goals.
Nearly 50 of our students graduated from high school, as well as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate programs, celebrating their graduations with family and friends via Zoom and drive-by graduation ceremonies. Watch our 2020 graduate reception and our 2020 graduate slideshow.
Our language teams continued their work to develop online language-learning courses to ensure that the languages of the Doyon region not only survive, but thrive, for future generations.
Interested language learners continued to utilize our Doyon Languages Online platform, which now offers free courses in Benhti Kenaga’, Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in), Denaakk’e (Koyukon), Holikachuk and Hän – and will soon offer lessons in Deg Xinag, Denak’i (Upper Kuskokwim), Nee’anděg’ (Tanacross) and Née’aaneegn’ (Upper Tanana). Sign up to learn your language for free here.
Organizations across the Doyon region continued to develop ideas and carry out plans for language-revitalization projects, assisted by Our Language grants.
And our donors continued to support our efforts, generously giving despite the challenges and uncertainties of 2020. For this, we say thank you:
Hąį’ęę – Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in)
Ana Basi’ – Benhti Kokhut’ana Kenaga’ (Lower Tanana)
Baasee’/Maasee’ – Denaakk’e (Koyukon)
Tsín’ęę – Dihthaad Xt’een Iin Aanděeg’ (Tanacross)
Tsen’įį – Nee’aanèegn’ (Upper Tanana)
Tsen’anh – Dinak’i (Upper Kuskokwim)
Mähsi’ – Hän
Xisigidasidhut – Holikachuk
Dogidinh – Deg Xinag
Quyanaq – Inupiaq
We thank all of our supporters for their steadfast commitment to our mission, to our students, to our languages, to our future. Thank you for helping us continue to move forward, even when the path in front of us was hard to see. And thank you for making a real difference in the lives of our students, like Rosemary, Alexis and Angeli:
“This scholarship changed my life and was the difference to help me achieve a career and financial security.” – Rosemary Messer
“There is an additional aspect to your donation: a verification that reminds me I can do this. School is tough but I remember I am not alone because I have a whole team supporting and encouraging me to do my best.” – Alexis Newby
“Receiving this scholarship makes me feel like my hard work is noticed, and that I have the potential to contribute to a great future for Alaska. – Angeli Kristovich
We invite you to read our “2020 At a Glance,” or view our 2020 highlights video, which provide an overview of Doyon Foundation’s 2020 fiscal year – highlights that our supporters helped make possible.
If you would like to support Doyon Foundation in 2021, we invite you to Pick. Click. Give. to the Foundation when you complete your PFD application or make a secure online donation at www.doyonfoundation.com. Remember, you can also support scholarships while you shop by linking your Fred Meyer rewards card to the Foundation. You can learn more about ways to show your support by visiting our website.
If you have any questions or want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at foundation@doyon.com or 907.459.2048.
Thank you again for your support of the Foundation and the students we serve.