July 24, 2018

JULY 24 - AUGUST 6, 2018

FEATURES

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

FEATURES

PAGE 3

Highway History: ‘A feat of engineering’

Despite several setbacks, Seawolves finish third in pre-season tournament

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOSEAWOLVES

The UAA’s women basketball team returned from Taiwan on July 10 for a pre-season tournament. The Seawolves will be back in action on Nov. 4 in North Carolina with their first game against Duke University.

sports@thenorthernlight.org

The UAA women’s basketball team returned late on July 10 after almost two weeks spent in Taiwan. The lengthy trip to the port city of Kaohsiung was due to a pre-season tournament, the 2018 BLIA Cup University Basketball Tournament.

To prepare for the trip, senior Hannah Wandersee explained that it was fast-paced and short in duration.

“We [had] open gyms on our own as a team until ten days before the trip when coaches were allowed to put us through two-aday practices, along with weight training three times a week. It was hard to try to fit everything in 10 days, so we had to learn quickly,” Wandersee said.

The women opened with a 22-point-win over team Ryerson from Canada. The July 2 game was led by Wandersee and Tara Thompson, earning 19 and 14 points respectively.

The Seawolves not only ended the game strong, but they also started out the first quarter with a significant 8-point lead. However, their strongest lead was an 11-point lead in the third quarter, earning 28 points over Ryerson’s 17.

UAA’s notable debut did not repeat itself on day two when they got back on the court to play against Nagoya Gakuin thenorthernlight.org

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Watercolors, quilts and more featured in Anchorage’s First Friday

Seawolves return from Taiwan

By Lauren Cuddihy

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

University.

A fairly even start at the beginning that only put the Seawolves down three points turned into a much worse second quarter when NGU accumulated 22 points while UAA managed 11.

Despite Yazmeen Goo, Sydni Stallworth and Wandersee all scoring in the double digits during the rest of the game, the Seawolves couldn’t manage another win.

UAA ended 12 points down from NGU’s 81.

The Fourth of July was a positive turn around for the Seawolves, resulting in three wins and just one loss in the remaining tournament games.

Despite the minor setbacks, the team maintained a positive attitude.

“We didn’t really know what to expect because we were playing teams from all over the world and the styles are so different, but I felt [like] we dramatically improved,” Wandersee said.

Université de Lyon, Fo Guang University and Taiwan Sports University all suffered losses to UAA as they got their rhythm back. Shanghai University proved to be the only temporary set back for the Seawolves.

Lyon was the first win of the steak for UAA, a 25-point lead gave the Seawolves an 89-64 victory.

A significant improvement from the previous game, the Seawolves have five doublefacebook.com/tnlupdates

digit scorers. Wandersee had a team-high of 19 points, Goo and Sala Langi managed 12 each and Stallworth and Thompson both accumulated 11.

Two days later, the Seawolves were back in action with a tournament-high 98 points. In comparison to the previous three games, Stallworth pushed Wandersee out of the top-scorer position by accumulating 17 points, compared to Wandersee’s 14.

Nicole Pinckney also contributed to the high-scoring game with the addition of 15 points, the second-highest on the Seawolves’ side.

As the tournament reached its end, the Seawolves suffered a loss to Shanghai University, just 3 points behind, with a final score of 60-63.

Despite the setback, UAA came back on the final day of the tournament with the strongest win yet, a 36-point lead gave the Seawolves an 88-52 win and a third-place finish in the tournament.

The final game gave McCarthy the opportunity to be creative with the lineup.

“We took control early and got a chance to look at a lot of our young players today, so I couldn’t think of a more positive way to end this trip,” McCarthy said.

The Seawolves will be back in action on Nov. 4 in North Carolina with their first game against Duke University.‌‌‌ @tnl_updates

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‘It’s more and it’s familiar’: John Stalvey appointed as interim provost Although Stalvey is now overseeing all of UAA’s colleges as opposed to focusing on one, his plans remain student-oriented.‌ They include UAA 2020, which is a strategic plan to obtain short-term goals for the university, such as focusing on removing barriers to student and faculty success, increasing new student retention, as well as increasing the number of graduates in high-demand job areas by 2 percent each year.‌ “I think that that’s a critical initiative, and so making sure we continue to make progress on that is absolutely and fundamentally important to both UAA and also to the state of Alaska and UA system,” Stalvey said.‌ In the meantime, John PePHOTO COURTESY OF JOSUA BOROUGH traitis, the associate dean of CAS, has been appointed as the interim dean of the college, a deBy Mariah DeJesus-Remaklus cision that was made by Stalvey.‌ mremaklus@thenorthernlight.org “Given his experience as a chair of a department, president John Stalvey, formerly dean of UAA’s College of Arts and of the faculty senate, and he’s Sciences, has been appointed in- been in the associate dean positerim provost for Academic Af- tion for a little over six years, he really knows the ins and outs of fairs.‌ Duane Hrncir’s term as in- the university as well as the colterim provost ended on June 30 lege,” Stalvey said. “I thought and UA president Jim Johnsen that he seemed to be a really searched for a new appointment.‌ good choice, and I think he’s go“I offered the position to ing to do a good job.”‌ Student success is also imDean Stalvey after consulting portant to Petraitis. He considwith several key leaders at UAA ers it to be both his short-term and UA,” Johnsen wrote in an and long-term goals with the reemail. “He has had a long career as a faculty and in university ad- sources the university has.‌ “If our students do not perministration, his college is the sist and do not graduate, we are largest in the UA system, he received numerous expressions of falling short on our chief missupport, and I have personally sion,” Petraitis said. “We can get been impressed by him in many students into the university, we meetings over the last several need to make sure we have them in the right classes, that they’re years.”‌ Stalvey graduated from Wil- having good experiences and liams College in Massachusetts. they progress from one semester He also has a Masters of Sci- to two semesters to three semesence in physiology, as well as ters to get to the point [of gradua doctorate in biophysics and ation].”‌ The appointments were efphysiology from the Universifective July 1. The lengths of the ty of Southern California. Not terms are indeterminable, but only has he served as the dean of College of Arts and Sciences Johnsen said they will depend at UAA since 2012, he has also on how long it takes for the inserved as associate dean for the coming UAA chancellor, Cathy same college at Kent State Uni- Sandeen, to fill the provost position.‌ versity.‌ “I expect it to be one of her Stalvey said he enjoyed his former position, but felt a re- top priorities,” Johnsen wrote in sponsibility to take the interim his email. “So I would anticipate a decision within the academic provost seat.‌ “I really enjoy being dean of year.”‌ Stalvey said his new workthe College of Arts and Sciencload has expanded now that he es, so this is not something that oversees areas like curriculum, I had aspired to,” Stalvey said. research and faculty, all of which “But, when the president of the are under academic affairs.‌ [university] system calls you and “It’s more and it’s familiar,” asks you if you’d be willing to serve, I felt a responsibility to Stalvey said. “I’ve got a great support staff. Anything I don’t the university and to UAA.”‌ know, they teach me.”‌ youtube.com/tnlnews

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THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018

| 02

Anchorage assembly considers banning disposable plastic bags

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

By Mariah DeJesus-Remaklus mremaklus@thenorthernlight.org

The Anchorage Assembly is considering an ordinance that would ban plastic shopping

bags, a policy that other communities in Alaska have implemented.‌ On July 17, assembly members introduced two versions: one enforces the ban and the

other enforces the ban with the option of alternative bags for a fee. AO 2018-63 prohibits the distribution of disposable plastic shopping bags by retail sellers.

The substitute version notes the same prohibition but also permits retail sellers to offer a reusable bag or recycled paper bag for a fee of 10 cents per bag.‌ “One is the original one that most cities use when they first try this. The substitute version is an improvement on that,” Assemblyman Dick Traini said.

“That’s the vehicle I intend to push through the assembly.”‌ There would be penalties for businesses that fail to comply: the first offense for providing or distributing a disposable shopping bag would be a warning. A second offense would be $250 per violation, and the third and subsequent offenses would be $500 per violation.‌ If the substitute ordinance is enacted, the same fees would apply to offenses for failing to charge for a recycled paper or reusable bag.‌ In 2009, Hooper Bay and Bethel were among the first

communities to ban plastic bags in Alaska. Wasilla joined the list this year with a ban that was effective July 1.‌ Representative Andy Josephson of the Alaska Legislature proposed a statewide tax on disposable plastic bags earlier this year with House Bill 264. The tax would have been 20 cents per bag, but the bill failed to move beyond the Rules Committee in April.‌ Christopher Constant, assemblyman, is also in support of the Anchorage ordinance. He said the details are being considered in the coming weeks as the assembly holds meetings and public testimonies.‌ The language in the ordinance drafts refer to retail sellers and Constant does not think the ban will apply to businesses outside of that.‌ “I don’t think it’s going to impact restaurants or farmers’ markets, but those are the details we’ll have to sort out because right now, it’s [a blanket approach],” Constant said.‌ Suzanna Caldwell, public information officer for the An-

chorage Municipality’s Solid Waste Services, said they do see “a lot” of plastic bags at the landfill.‌ “Plastic bags are really challenging for us because they do cause a litter problem. It’s pretty easy for those bags to get blown around,” Caldwell said. “We put up litter fencing and we have laborers that go around and actually pick up the trash, but there’s so many. It’s almost impossible to get them all.”‌ “I think people would like to see us not have single-use things that clutter our community, and so the trick there is just writing one that doesn’t end up promoting any worse conduct,” Assemblyman Eric Croft said.‌ A public hearing will be held Aug. 31 at Anchorage City Hall where residents can deliver testimonies regarding the ordinance.‌ “Hopefully, this will encourage people to take bags with them to the store — reusable bags — and take the products home with them,” Traini said.‌ “Generally, I think it’s a good idea. We just have to work to do it right,” Croft said.‌

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018

| 03

History of ALCAN included in UAA classes

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

Is an unpaid internship worth it?

By Mizelle Mayo

features2@thenorthernlight.org

Part of the college experience is being able to apply the knowledge gained from classes towards our desired career paths.

An internship is a hands-on experience that puts a student’s knowledge to the test. At UAA, students are able to take on internships as a form of a threecredit upper division class. ‌ Internships are becoming more of a demand in all fields of studies; internships vary from unpaid to paid, and unpaid internships have been a controversial topic with students who want to get their foot in the door to their careers.‌ According to the U.S. Department of Labor fact sheet #17, the qualifications for a legitimate and legal unpaid internship are the following: • The employer is to clearly state to the intern that there is no compensation unless clearly stating they are an employee and will be compensated • The internship is applied as academic credit • The internship accommodates their academic schedule • The internship’s duration provides beneficial educational learning • The intern’s work complements rather than displaces current employees’ work • There is a mutual understanding that the internship is taking place without an entitlement of a paid job after the internship‌ So, does an unpaid internship have benefits equally valuable as a paid internship? For some UAA students, the experience is enough to compensate for the absence of pay.‌ “Last summer I participated in an unpaid internship position for three months over the summer in Anchorage. I absolutely loved it. Over the course of my time with that company, I was able to work completely hands on with the equipment, materi-

als and staff each shift,” Joley Hodgson, recent graduate in the journalism department, said in an email. “During my internship I also worked another job.

If you’re able to manage your time well, this is always a good option.”‌ Unpaid internships are a hot topic in the realm for students because parents, professors and employers emphasize the need for real life experience. Some UAA students like Young Kim, a UAA alumnus and former employee of The Northern Light, have taken both unpaid and paid internships. Although he has taken both, an unpaid internship is a valuable asset.‌ “I did an unpaid internship at the Anchorage Press and a paid internship at [the Anchorage Daily News], and at both I feel like I learned a lot. The paid internship felt more like a job than a traditional internship, in my opinion. Being unpaid at the Anchorage Press felt like I needed to make the most out of it, and it was more my responsibility to make it worth my while,” Kim said in an email. “I understand the argument that unpaid internships are designed for those who have financial backing and exclude those who can’t afford it, but I think if there is an internship opportunity that you think it’s worth it, you’ll make it work regardless of the situation.”‌ The pros of an unpaid internship can be credited in the form of class credits, hands-on experience in a student’s desired career field, job prospects and networking. ‌ This can also apply to paid internships, yet there can be a downside to those who are interested in unpaid internships.‌ Taking on an unpaid internship can be seen as “free labor” depending on if the position meets the U.S. Department of Labor fact sheet #17. It can also isolate students that cannot afford to take on an unpaid internship, and does not help the student debt crisis.‌ So, is it worth it? An unpaid internship can be worthwhile, but it depends on a student’s financial stability, time and needs.‌

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATHERINE RINGSMUTH

On April 30, 2017, at the Veteran’s Memorial in Anchorage, Governor Walker signed a bill to create the Alaska Highway Day.

By Robin O’Donoghue arts2@thenorthernlight.org

Many Alaskans are familiar with the Alaska Highway, built during World War II to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska via Canada. But what many might not be aware of is that the road was built by several thousand African-American soldiers while the U.S. military was still segregated. ‌ Jean Pollard, a UAA alumna who graduated with a degree in history, first stumbled upon this portion of Alaska history while watching a PBS documentary about the construction of the Alaska Highway.‌ The Alaska Highway, also known as the ALCAN, is 1,700 miles long, running from Delta Junction, Alaska, to Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Construction on the project started in March of 1942 and took less than a year. Out of the 10,000 soldiers, about one-third were black and subjected to dangerous conditions throughout the construction process.‌ “They were treated like slaves,” Pollard said. “I had never even heard about this… and neither did professors and other people I started asking about it.”‌ Despite the disadvantages, the soldiers managed to build the military road over some of the most dangerous terrain in North America without the use of power tools.‌ “It was absolutely a feat of engineering,” Ian Hartman, an associate professor of history at UAA, said. “It was the largest infrastructure project on the continent going back to the Panama Canal.”‌ Hartman lectures about the construction of the Alaska Highway in his American history courses on World War II and

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE RINGSMUTH

A photo from Lael Morgan’s curated exhibit, “Miles and Miles: Honoring Black Veterans Who Built the Alaska Highway.” The image along with the rest of her collection is housed in the archives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

the Cold War.‌ “To understand the desegregation of the military in 1948 and to understand the beginning of the modern civil rights movement, you really do need to go back and look at the way black troops excelled in Alaska and in Canada, and the Aleutians during World War II… It’s a corrective to our understanding of the civil rights movement,” Hartman said.‌ After learning about the extent of the role African-American soldiers played in building the Alaska Highway, Pollard, a retired educator, made it her mission to educate as many people as possible. She created an organization called The Alaska Highway Project in 2012, which she now chairs.‌ Together, Pollard and The Alaska Highway Project have made strides to educate the public by working with the Anchorage School District to get lesson plans on the history of the Alaska Highway.‌ In addition, The Alaska Highway Project has organized events honoring the contributions and service of all AfricanAmerican engineering battal-

ions, theater productions and other public events to give people access to the history of the Alaska Highway.‌ Katherine Ringsmuth, a term history professor at UAA, first met Pollard while working on a public lecture series, featuring Lael Morgan, at the Mountain View Public Library. Since then, Ringsmuth has been collaborating with Pollard in her efforts and providing assistance when she can.‌ “This is an American story,” Ringsmuth said.‌ Ringsmuth teaches about the history of the Alaska Highway in her history classes at UAA and the Eagle River Middle College Program.‌ On Thursday, Aug. 30, the UAA History Department will be putting on a free event in the auditorium of the Fine Arts Building called, “50th Anniversary March on Washington: I have a Dream.” The reception for the event starts at 6:30 p.m. with programming from 7-9 p.m.‌ To learn more about The Alaska Highway Project, you can visit their website at alaskahighwayproject.com‌

04 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018

UAA student assists Mobile Medics International

By Robin O’Donoghue arts2@thenorthernlight.org

On June 13, Moira Pyhala, a senior studying political science at UAA, traveled with Mobile Medics International, an Anchorage-based non-governmental organization, to Cebu Island in the Philippines.‌ For three weeks, Pyhala served as photographer, clerk, medical assistant, clinic coordinator and pretty much any position that the nine-member team required.‌ “Moira [Pyhala] was such a value to the team,” Teresa Gray, founder of Mobile Medics International, said.‌ Gray said that when the team arrived in different rural villages, hundreds of people were waiting for them.‌ “Without even being able to speak the language, Moira [Pyhala] was able to set up the area where we were going to practice, help us get our equipment ready and direct people to where they needed to go,” Gray said.‌ This summer marked Gray’s fourth trip with Mobile Medics International to the Philippines but the first time the team brought an intern and non-medical volunteer. ‌ Gray, a career flight medic, founded Mobile Medics International during the Syrian Refugee Crisis as a way to organize and mobilize medical professionals to areas of conflict and disaster.‌ “If UAA continues to give me interns… I’m taking an intern,” Gray said.

“We learned from having her there [that] as a medical team, we want to have someone who’s non-medical in that role for every trip.”‌ While this was their fourth trip to the Philippines, the trip marked a new endeavor for Gray and her crew.‌ “This is the first community that we’re working on medical self-reliance with,” Gray said. ‌ The team not only provided medical aid but also medical training to community members by conducting first-aid classes. The team partnered with a church group to establish a permanent clinic, fully stocked with medical supplies. ‌ Both the clinic and training are parts of a long-term plan to staff the clinic to be self-sufficient. Gray plans to return to the clinic in October to teach a full EMT course.‌ The team was able to increase their outreach and the number of patients they saw on this trip. On previous trips, the team saw an average of about 500-600 people, but this year, they treated a total of 1,400 people in just 10 days.‌ “We’re really thankful to all our donors as we are entirely donor-funded,” Pyhala said.‌ Pyhala first connected with Gray through the UAA Model United Nations Program. Two years ago, Gray served as the keynote speaker for the conference and presented her work with the Syrian Refugee crisis, which ultimately led her to found the Mobile Medics International organization.‌

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOIRA PYHALA

Pyhala smiles while taking a break from her work to hold a child.

This spring, Gray reached out to Kimberly Pace, a political science professor at UAA who oversees the organization of the annual Model United Nations conference, inquiring about the possibility of an intern.‌ “I am so very pleased that Moira had the opportunity to be part of Mobile Medics International trip to the Philippines,” Pace said. “I will be thrilled to have her share her real-world experience with the students at UAA.”‌ The experience was one Pyhala would recommend to other students.‌ “It definitely strengthened my passion for nonprofit and NGO work… they definitely make a difference in areas where governments and business sectors fail to provide people with what they need to survive,” Pyhala said.‌

Mobile Medics International has worked crises such as Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas and Cyclone Gita in American Samoa. The organization also travels to Greece and the Philippines annually to provide aid.‌ Gray says that the team has no plans of slowing down and will likely be doing several disaster relief missions before January of 2019.‌ “It’s hurricane season, so we’re currently monitoring several hurricanes and we’re ready to go when people need us,” Gray said. “We’re staying busy.”‌ To learn more about the efforts of Gray and Mobile Medics International, you can visit their website at mobilemedicsinternational.org.‌

UAA health and medical programs land students jobs

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

By Mizelle Mayo

features2@thenorthernlight.org

UAA offers various programs like engineering, health, medicine and busi-

ness. Among the many degrees available, health and medicine are in high demand, especially in Alaska. Through nursing, pre-med and natural science programs geared towards medical practices, UAA has helped students apply the skills they’ve learned in the work field.‌ Before students get into any health or natural science programs, they must take certain classes to qualify.‌ “As far as the natural science classes go, we do require two anatomy and physiology classes, two chemistry classes and a microbiology class, all of which are probably our hardest pre-major non-nursing classes,” Danielle Dixon, UAA nursing advisor, said.‌ Since health and natural science fall into similar categories, students who are studying in the medical field are required to take numerous science classes as a baseline of knowledge. Classes like anatomy, physiology, physics and microbiology helped Brent Sugabo, a pre-med student, apply those skills in his current jobs as a Certified Nursing Assistant and cardiac telemetry monitor technician at

Alaska Regional Hospital.‌ “All my life I knew I wanted to be a doctor, and everything I’ve done thus far is in pursuit of that dream…These classes have made me a better CNA and monitor tech working with patients directly by understanding what’s happening physically on the outside, knowing what’s happening inside and how to help them,” Sugabo said.‌ As students take these classes, they are required to take lab courses in order to apply those skills effectively. Divine Nate, a UAA alumna with a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science, took these classes into account while working at her current job as a laboratory scientist at the Alaska Native Medical Center.‌ “The many hours of lab have definitely helped me prepare for the real work — we used real blood and actual materials from hospitals around Anchorage during our lessons. Also, the two semesters of externship required for the degree was a great help. Each student was assigned to different hospitals and shadowed lab employees along with other departments in a

lab like phlebotomy,” Nate said.‌ In the Health Sciences Building on campus, there are two rooms for nursing students designated for practicing on animatronic patients.‌ “We have artificial man, woman and baby. We can program them to display all kinds of vital signs… Students can get that hands-on experience and really see what they’re doing and why some of the rules for nursing is important,” Dixon said.‌ Coming from Unalaska, Jhiddle Sugabo has been able to attend UAA and obtain more knowledge in nursing. With classes that teach students the practicality of nursing, Jhiddle earned a CNA after taking the Foundations of Nursing in the nursing program. ‌ Jhiddle is one of the students who gained valuable experience in the nursing program.‌ “I had a brother in the Philippines who was very young, and he was diagnosed with a lot of issues. I was there for him, and I want to be there for someone who’s going through that,” Jhiddle said.‌

& AE

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018

| 05

The last First Friday of summer

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RIVKA CHANA ZOREA

Annie Brace, owner of Corso Graphics, will have her original prints, paintings, vinyl stickers, Alaska-themed coloring books and greeting cards at Snow City Cafe for First Friday.

First Friday at the Bagel Factory, said.‌ arts@thenorthernlight.org The Bagel Factory is located at 142 W. 34th Ave.‌ For more watercolor, 2 There’s a lot to do while the sun’s still out this First Friday Friends Gallery at 341 E. Benin downtown Anchorage with son Blvd will have the Alaska events starting as early as 4 p.m.‌ Watercolor Society’s 44th AnThe Bagel Factory will con- nual Juried Watercolor Exhibitinue to host watercolor and tion. A meet-and-greet of the mixed media. Three artists from artists as well as some refreshthe Alaska Watercolor Society ments will be at this event from will showcase their work for 5-7 p.m.‌ 625 C St. is home to the AnAugust’s First Friday. The paintings will hang throughout Au- chorage Museum, hosting an argust and a reception will be held ray of music, refreshments and more. From 6-8 p.m., over 100 from 5-7 p.m.‌ “My work is all about col- Anchorage School District stuor and the interaction between dents will present their works of shadow and light. I have been an art through spoken word, phoartist for many years but only in tography and more, all on the the last five or six years have I topic of social justice and innoreally concentrated on watercol- vative solutions.‌ In the planetarium at the muor,” Rivka Chana Zorea, one of the chosen artists for the coming seum at 7:30 p.m., LA-based artist and composer Carolyn

By Malia Barto

Pennypacker Riggs will play a live show for Anchoragites. The show costs $15, but there’s a ten percent discount for Museum members.‌ Even the elevators at the museum will be filled with entertainment as Michael Howard and Caroline Cotter perform original duets while guests go to visit different events.‌ At Great Harvest Bread Co., quilts will be displayed and on sale for all of August. The quilts are made by Nan’s Group, a group who create and sell quilts and put the proceeds toward a charity. The proceeds this time will go to Alaska Chapter of Newborns in Need, a non-profit that supplies baby-care items to mothers who do not have anything for their newborn.‌ “The quilts are not made from traditional patterns. Art quilts, scrap quilts and improvisational designs might be suitable descriptors,” Nancy Sopp said. Sopp is a member of Nan’s Group, the coordinator of the showings and an adjunct German professor at UAA.‌ Great Harvest will hold a reception from 4-6 p.m.‌ Making a really good joke can be a form art. The Hard Rock Cafe Anchorage hosts a new line of comedians every First Friday for a free showing for those 21 years old and over. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. It’s followed by a comedy open mic at 9:30 p.m., 415 E St. A $5 donation is suggested.‌ The Midnight Sun Cafe will host photography showcasing Alaska’s beauty from Heather Stewman and Satrina Hillard Lord at 245 W. 5th Ave, Ste 106, 5 - 7 p.m.‌ Sparc: a creative place, a gallery and studio for clients of The Arc of Anchorage, will have an “under the sea” themed art gal-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RIVKA CHANA ZOREA

One of Rivka Chana Zorea’s watercolor paintings that will be at the Bagel Factory’s First Friday reception.

lery from their artists on display and music from DJs starting at 5:30 p.m., 425 D St.‌ Graphic design artist Annie Brace, owner of Corso Graphics, will have her original prints, paintings, vinyl stickers, Alaska-themed coloring books and greeting cards, just to name a few, at Snow City Cafe for First Friday-goers to check out and purchase. The Cafe is at 1034 W. 4th Ave and will have a First Friday welcoming from 5:30-8 p.m.‌ Brace has been a part of First Friday at Snow City Cafe a few

years ago and was “honored” to be invited back. She keeps busy running her own company, fulfilling a dream.‌ “Creating art refills my tank like not much else can. When that art inadvertently fills someone else’s tank, well, that’s the cherry on top. Supporting the arts is supporting a dream and for that, I am forever indebted,” Brace said.‌ There are plenty of ways to support local artists and galleries for Anchorage’s First Friday, Aug. 3.‌‌‌‌

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THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018

| 06

A look into the Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC WYNN

The Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon began at 4 a.m. in Seward, pictured here in 2016. Participants start the triathlon with a 2.6-mile swim in 50-degree water.

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

One year after its debut, 320 athletes signed up for the second year of the Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon, which took place July 21. Included in the 320 participants were a handful of second-time racers, willing to battle out the Alaskan wilderness over 141.8 miles and a total 11,635-foot elevation gain. ‌ The event begins with a 2.6-mile swim

in the cold waters of Seward with an average temperature of 50 degrees. Once completing the swim, competitors are expected to bike 113 miles from Seward to Girdwood. To finish it off, the athletes must run a complete marathon throughout Alyeska Ski Resort with a 2,134 meter elevation gain. ‌ Nathan Teater, an Anchorage local, decided to give the event another go. Last year, Teater finished at 86th with a time of time of 16 hours and 38 minutes.‌ “My strategy last year was to enjoy the

experience and just finish the race, which I did,” Teater said.‌ Teater realized after the fact that he could have significantly altered his prerace training. He said that he did a poor job with his race day nutrition that resulted in suffering cramps during the beginning of his run.‌ He felt that other training could have better prepared him. ‌ “Hopefully by focusing more on core strength over the last year, along with a better nutrition plan on race day will translate to better results,” Teater said.‌ In comparison to Teater’s emphasis on core and nutrition, the 2017 women’s winner and Texas local, Morgan Chaffin, took a well-rounded approach.‌ “I added in more stair climbing, and did lower more frequent running miles outside,” Chaffin said in an email.‌ Her training also comes with the plan to compete in the Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon this year, which is two weeks after the Alaskaman. ‌ The Norseman is an extreme triathlon in Norway that features a 2.5-mile swim by leaping off of a ferry and requiring a wetsuit, a 112-mile bike and a marathon.‌ Due to the extreme nature of both triathlons, Chaffin explained she has been focusing extensively on endurance.‌ “I really enjoyed the climate, the terrain and the surroundings [of Alaska]...

Most of the time, I didn’t realize I was

doing an extreme event because I was surrounded by such amazing scenery,” Chaffin added.‌ Although she found significant success last year, with a No. 1 women finish and No. 6 overall finish, she is returning in hopes to improve her time. ‌ In 2017, Chaffin finished the race in just 12 hours and 47 minutes, but the course was reported to be more difficult in 2018, providing an extra challenge.‌ The continued success is what race founder and designer Aaron Palain was aiming for. He created the event because he thought there was no better place for “an extreme triathlon of grand proportions than the Last Frontier.” ‌ The unique aspects of the event are what Palain is hoping to use to motivate people to come back year after year. ‌ “Our AlaskaMan distances are all longer than most normal long distance triathlons, we have 54-degree water with no visibility, our bike course is one of the most beautiful on earth, but the valleys and mountains can create some extreme weather and our run course takes athletes through just about every terrain imaginable,” Palain said. ‌ To learn more about the event itself, visit www.akxtri.com or their Facebook page of Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon (@akxtri) and to access the 2018 race results visit www.akxtri.com/results.‌

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THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018

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