Doyon Foundation Student Wins $10,000 in Essay Contest
Doyon Foundation congratulates student Charles Ralston,
who was one of seven winners in the recent Native
Insight: Thoughts on Recession, Recovery & Opportunity
writing competition. Ralston received a $10,000 prize
for his essay, titled “Alaska Native Corporations
Can Provide International Benefits Through Marketing
Carbon Offset.”
The writing competition was designed
to tap the wisdom and ingenuity of Native communities,
and encourage Native thinkers to go public with their
perspectives on the current economic and political
landscape. The winners were announced at the Alaska
Federation of Natives 2009 annual convention, and
the seven winning essays, including Ralston’s, are
posted at
www.nativeinsight.org.
Ralston, who is originally
from Juneau, Alaska, currently resides in Arcata,
California, where he is studying English/writing practices
at Humboldt State University. After graduating in
spring 2010, Ralston plans to attend graduate school
and is interested in studying rhetoric and composition.
In the future, Ralston hopes to obtain a master’s
of teaching writing degree. After receiving the degree,
he would like to teach composition at the community
college-level and get involved in a college writing
center. Eventually, he said he would love to be a
writing center director.
Ralston said the Doyon Foundation
has rewarded his hard work and focused study with
generous scholarships.
“In addition, Doyon Foundation
referred me to the Native Insight essay competition,
which I won for $10,000. This financial security has
allowed me to concentrate on my education. For this,
I cannot thank the Doyon Foundation enough,” said
Ralston, who is the son of Bill and Laura Ralston
of Juneau, Alaska, and the grandson of Justin and
Marianne Patsy from Nulato, Alaska.