The University of Alaska announced today that Louise Kadake is the recipient of its 2018 Teach for Alaska Scholarship award for aspiring Alaska teachers. Kadake, a lifelong resident of Kake, will receive a $12,000 scholarship to study teacher education at the University of Alaska Southeast. She was informed of her award by a Friday phone call from UA President Jim Johnsen.

Kadake was a student leader and athlete throughout high school and valedictorian of her high school class. She is proud of her Tlingit, Tsimshian and Yupik heritage and studies Alaska Native culture, food, dance and language. A young single mother, she postponed her college education after having her now two-year-old son Braxton. Kadake plans to return to Kake to teach after completing her degree.

“I want to pursue a degree in education because it gives me the ability to share my passion, help shape the lives of our youth, and to give back to my community,” wrote Kadake in her scholarship application. “I want to make it known that education is important and that so are our youth; they are the future leaders.”

Kadake currently works as a special education aide in the Kake City School District. She earned a certificate in child development and will begin her teacher education studies in the Alaska College of Education at the University of Alaska Southeast this fall.

In awarding Kadake with the scholarship, Johnsen noted her standout application and inspiring personal goals.

“Educating young Alaskans is one of the most important jobs in our state, and Louise has the qualities that we need in Alaska’s schools,” Johnsen said. “She is passionate about children and education, connected to her Alaska Native culture and her community, and driven to help students grow and learn. It’s an honor to present her with this scholarship and I look forward to seeing her graduate in a few years.”

The scholarship, part of the university’s initiative to increase the number of Alaska educated teachers, was open to incoming undergraduate students planning to pursue a degree in education at any University of Alaska campus. Applicants submitted both a video and an essay addressing why they plan to pursue a degree in education and what they hope to accomplish as a future teacher.

The Teach for Alaska Scholarship is funded from the Land Grant Trust Endowment, which allocates annual funding for the UA president’s discretionary scholarships. The endowment receives revenue from property sales and resource development conducted on Trust lands.