Conference of Young Alaskans
Applications are Closed
The application deadline has passed and we would like to thank everyone who took the time to fill out an application and write an essay. The steering committee will announce their selection of the 55 delegates to the 2009 Conference of Young Alaskans on November 18th.
History
The first Conference of Young Alaskans was held in Fairbanks, January 13-16, 2006 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s Constitutional Convention. Fifty-five delegates were selected from over 400 self-nominating essays to represent the voice of Alaska’s future. The discussion was wide ranging and the process was illuminating.
- Final Report - Conference of Young Alaskans - 2006
- 55 Delegates - Conference of Young Alaskans - 2006
January 2009 - Conference of Young Alaskans
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alaska Statehood and to foster awareness and appreciation of our state’s history among the emerging leaders of Alaska, the University of Alaska will convene a second “Conference of Young Alaskans” in January 2009.
This conference will again draw fifty-five delegates from across the state to consider the challenges facing Alaska and her people. Together, they will develop policy statements and proposed courses of action. The selected delegates will represent the voice of Alaska’s next generation of leaders and the gathering will demonstrate the potential and possibility of Alaskans putting aside their differences to work together for the common good.
This event will act as a statewide vehicle to provide Alaskans with a better understanding of how the state came to be, and will raise the level of public debate on many of the contentious issues Alaska faces today. In particular, it will recreate the atmosphere of unity and cooperation that marked the struggle for statehood.
Nomination
The project is guided by a Steering Committee of young leaders who will be responsible for receiving delegate nominations and overseeing the successful implementation of the conference.
All nominations will be self-nominations. The online application will be available from October 4 to October 18, 2008, following the Forum of Young Alaskans. Participation in the Forum is not required but does demonstrate commitment to the process and will be considered during the selection process.
