Seventy student delegates gathered on the UAA campus on April 11-12 at a UAA student Alaska Constitutional convention. Inspiration for the convention were the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood, and Article XIII. Section 3 of the Alaska constitution which provides for voters to be asked once in ten years whether they wish to hold a convention. The focus of the student convention was education. It provided UAA students with the opportunity to study the Alaska constitution and Alaska government , to investigate signficant public policy issues in Alaska today and to reflect on the importance of the 50th anniversary. more...

Co-presented by the Alaska Historical Society, BP and the University of Alaska, AHS is holding its annual conference in Anchorage.  In honor of the 50th anniversary of statehood, AHS has themed this year's conference:  Alaska Visionaries:  Seekers, Leaders and Dreamers.  Three days of panels, paper presentations and poster viewings will examine fifty years of statehood and those who helped shape the Alaska we see today.  Invited guests from around the state will recollect the fight for statehood, discuss issues facing Alaska today and provide perspective for the next fifty years.  The conference will be capped off by a grand celebration with a special guest speaker on Alaska Day (October 18th) coordinated in conjunction with UAA's 49th State Fellows.  There will be many unique opportunities for students and several events for the general public to experience all the conference has to offer.    more...

The technology-rich forum of Young Alaskans is designed to raise awareness about access to and involvement in governance and public affairs in Alaska.  On October 4, 2008, young people from large and small communities across the state will convene to discuss, debate, and delve into the issues that are important to them and are affecting the state today.  As Alaska enters this monumental juncture of 50 years of statehood, it is more important than ever to take a hard look at what is happening and engage youth from the varied geographical  regions, socioeconomic classes and educational backgrounds present in this state.   more...

The first COYA took place in 2006 as a part of the Creating Alaska project.  The extremely positive response to this event led to the initiation of plans for a second conference.  COYA II is planned to coincide with another statehood milestone, the 50th anniversary of statehood.  The conference will commence on the anniversary of statehood, January 3, 2009, with participants playing a special role in celebrations taking place in Anchorage.  The following three days will see 55 young Alaskan leaders discussing and debating the most prominent issues facing the future of Alaska.  Many of these topics will come as a result of the discussions from the Forum with an emphasis on the economic issues facing our state today. more...

In Juneau, Alaska on February 1, 1944, a few minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline, a reluctant E.L. "Bob " Bartlett filed for candidacy as Alaska's Territorial Delegate to the United States Congress.  Bartlett was no stranger to public service, but he had never before run for elected office.  For the next 24 years he would never lose an election. 

As a permanent record of "where we are and where we hope to go" the University of Alaska Press will publish a series of books on the golden anniversary theme.  Alaska Politics and Public Policy, edited by Clive S. Thomas and Anthony T. Nakazwa will be published in the fall of 2008.  The University of Alaska Press will launch a new series of books  - the Alaska State Writer Laureate Series.  The books will highlight the work of the current, and past Alaska writer laureates.  The series will promote, publish and publicize the very best writers in Alaska - to make their writings available to readers all over Alaska, the Lower 48 and around the world. more...

Spearheaded by Dr. Terrence Cole, a collection of oral and written histories from prominent Alaskan pioneers, politicians, business and civic leaders involved in the statehood movement and the early years of statehood will be gathered.  Special emphasis will be placed on gathering the stories of two of the surviving delegates to the Alaska Constitutional Convention, Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill, as well as that of  George Rogers who worked as a consultant on the natural resources and apportionment provisions of the constitution.   The histories will then be deposited in the Rasmuson Library for preservation and future use.  more...

Creating Alaska:  The Origins of the 49th State was originally produced for UA's Creating Alaska project.  The traveling statehood exhibit will once again tour the state educating the public about Alaska's statehood history.  It is an opportunity for young and old alike to learn about the struggles and triumphs encountered on the journey to statehood.  The exhibit is available for loan to museums and organizations across the state. more...