For two years Jilli, a Labrador mix Seeing Eye dog, has led her owner, graduate student Charles Hamby, across the Fairbanks campus to attend classes and the numerous student activities that Hamby is involved with. On May 11 Jilli will guide Hamby, who is legally blind, across the stage at commencement when he receives a master's degree in anthropology. Jilli will also receive special recognition for the many hours of classtime she's logged in while accompanying Hamby through his college career. Hamby and Jilli are familiar faces on campus and are well-known to peers through Hamby' s involvement with the student recreation center governance board and student government. The duo have also served several years as group leaders for Orientation UAF on Track, giving tours of campus and mentoring new students.
Some people say that a bachelor's degree is no longer just a four-year process.
Kuskokwim graduate Johnny Evan would probably agree. Although some of his peers are taking five to 10 years to complete their undergraduate degrees, Evan, a Yupik Eskimo from Bethel, finished his bachelor's degree in small business development in less than two years. He was able to translate prior work experience into the degree, which he will be awarded after only six semesters of coursework. Evan is currently employed with the Association of Village Council Presidents in Bethel. Bodenstein, an Oglala Sioux receiving a master's in biochemistry from UAF this spring, spent part of his academic career doing research at the National Institute of Deafness and Communication Diseases.