President's Message
David Wight, President and CEO

Preparing minority students for science and engineering careers

Alyeska understands the importance of having a diverse work force and supports programs that increase minority participation in engineering and science. Every summer we select a group of engineering students to work for 12 weeks as interns at Trans Alaska Pipeline System sites. These students gain valuable professional and on-the-job experience.

Many of these interns are selected from the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) at the University of Alaska Anchorage and Fairbanks campuses. UAA associate professor of engineering Herb Schroeder founded and directs the program to help prepare Alaska Natives for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

He is a visionary and a tireless contributor to the cause of improving educational opportunities for minorities. His program is nationally recognized for its impressive retention rates and ability to graduate students. In 2004, President Bush awarded Schroeder a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

This award reflects Schroeder's commitment to enhancing participation of underrepresented groups in science, mathematics and engineering.

Schroeder's program succeeds by emphasizing the importance of community and teamwork. Students live together, support one another and are often coenrolled in classes. ANSEP fosters a positive academic environment that gets results. It has a 73 percent retention rate, which is impressive when compared to the 27 percent national average retention rate for similar programs. Alyeska supports ANSEP with scholarships and internship opportunities.

Alyeska also supports the University of Alaska's Alliance for Learning and Vision for underrepresented Americans (ALVA). This program is a precursor for students who eventually enter ANSEP. Thirteen of Alyeska's 15 interns this year are ANSEP/ALVA students.

Alyeska is proud to be associated with these outstanding programs and we look forward to working with ANSEP and ALVA as they continue to prepare students for careers in engineering and science.