Elaina Mack, from King Cove, AK, graduated May 2026 from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelors in Applied Technologies Leadership and a Bachelors in Kinesiology with a minor in Athletic Training. During her time at UAA, Elaina has been a member of the Universities Women’s Basketball team and is proud to have represented her home state and community through this sport that has taught her countless life lessons and has brought her to amazing places around the world.

The Ulakaia Center Scholarship has greatly supported Elaina in reaching her academic and long-term career goals. With this support, she has been able to focus and engage deeply in her coursework and maintain a strong academic performance while being a student athlete. Elaina states, “This scholarship has been a strong source of encouragement and motivation to remain committed to my goals. I am fortunate to have been able to move closer to my career aspirations by building the knowledge, skillsets, and experience required through internships and extracurricular involvement.”

Elaina’s proudest accomplishments academically at UAA include 3x Academic All-Conference and 4x Academic Letter Winner. Athletically, her proudest accomplishments include serving as a team captain for three seasons; winning the 24–25 GNAC Championship; earning GNAC Honorable Mention All-Conference honors in both the 24–25 and 25–26 seasons; being named to the 2025 Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team; leading the conference in three‑pointers made during the 25–26 season; ranking #1 on UAA’s all‑time three‑pointers made per game list (2.12); receiving the UAA Athletic Department’s Breakout Athlete of the Year award for the 24–25 season; and tying the program record with a 41‑point game.

Looking ahead, Elaina hopes to give back to her own and other Alaskan communities by providing yearly basketball camps in efforts to share her knowledge and inspire the next generation to work hard and chase their dreams!

“To younger students, I’d like to share that nothing worth having comes easily. Juggling academics and athletics was often a challenge for me, especially when I first got to college. However, through discipline and keeping my end-goal in mind I was able to persevere and come out with such an awarding experience that I will cherish forever. I was fortunate to attend this University and have unwavering support from my family, friends, teammates, coaches, and mentors. With that I encourage you to surround yourself with uplifting people that see your potential and won’t let you settle for less than your best.” – Elaina Mack

May 2026

River Zaochney

At just 14 years old, River Zaochney has already made an impressive mark as a student historian, musician, and representative of Alaska on the national stage. A student from Unalaska, River enjoys researching history—especially topics related to 19th-century Europe—and has a passion for music, playing the baritone horn in band with plans to switch to the tuba next school year.

River’s love of history led to participation in National History Day after learning about the 1882 Bombardment of Angoon. Intrigued by this lesser-known chapter of Alaska history, River and a teammate chose to create a website exploring the event. Their project examined how the conflict began after a Tlingit shaman was accidentally killed aboard an American whaling ship. Following Tlingit cultural traditions of seeking compensation for a loss, the community requested more than 200 blankets from the Northwest Trading Company. When those demands were not met, the Tlingit people took hostages and seized a company boat. Misunderstanding the situation, the U.S. Navy bombarded the village of Angoon, leaving it devastated and destroying many of its resources. Nearly 150 years later, in 2024, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Sucato issued a formal apology on behalf of the Navy.

River enjoyed bringing attention to an important part of Alaska’s history that many people have never learned about. The hard work paid off in an unforgettable way when River and the project partner won first place in Alaska’s Junior Division Website category, earning the opportunity to represent the state at the National History Day National Contest in Washington, D.C.

At the national competition, River and the teammate received the prestigious Naval History Award, one of only 20 special awards presented among approximately 3,000 student competitors from across the country. During their time in Washington, D.C., they also had the opportunity to discuss their project on the Bombardment of Angoon and the U.S. Navy’s 2024 apology with U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan.

Outside the competition, River especially enjoyed visiting the Smithsonian museums during free time, with the National Air and Space Museum standing out as a favorite because of its World War I exhibits. Another memorable moment was hearing River’s and the teammate’s names announced during the awards ceremony as recipients of the Naval History Award.

The opportunity to attend the national competition was made possible in part through the generous support of the Ulakaia Center. The travel scholarship helped cover airfare and other expenses, allowing River and family to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Reflecting on the experience, River says the biggest lesson learned is that hard work can lead to opportunities you never expect. Representing Alaska at the National History Day National Contest alongside thousands of talented students from across the country was both an honor and an inspiration. River is proud to have represented Unalaska and the Unangax̂ community on the national stage while helping share an important story from Alaska’s history.

July 2026