Desirae Janae Wystrach (Athabascan) was born Aug. 6, 2004, at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 20 inches. Her parents are CIRI descendant Angie Constantine (Athabascan), from Tyonek, and Dewayne Wystrach (Athabascan), from Anchorage. Desirae has a brother, Jonathan Wystrach, who is three. Her grandparents are CIRI shareholders Raymond Constantine Sr. and Charlene Constantine, of Anchorage. Her great grandmothers are CIRI shareholders, Fedora Constantine, of Tyonek, and Betty Russell, of Anchorage.

Dennis and Michelle Edwards proudly announce the birth of their daughter, Maya Ann, who was born Dec. 3, 2004. She weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces. Maya Ann has two older brothers, Joey and Raymond. Maya’s mom, brothers, and grandpa, Ray Stephan, are CIRI shareholders. The family lives in Long Beach, Calif.

CIRI shareholder Samuel Anaruk and his wife Christina proudly welcome their new addition, Winter Angifak C. Anaruk. Winter, who was born on Jan. 7, joins a family of siblings: seven-year-old MaryLou Mae, five-year-old Samantha Marie, and two-year-old Kristopher James Teofilo.

CIRI descendant Jason Benson-Carlough has been a CIRI Foundation scholarship recipient since 2001, and with assistance from the internship program, he is a human resources intern at Cook Inlet Tribal Council. Benson-Carlough graduates from the University of Alaska Anchorage in May with his bachelor’s degree in business management. He plans to continue his career full-time in the Human Resources Department at CITC.
“I’d like to thank The CIRI Foundation, Cook Inlet Tribal Council and the human resources staff, and my parents for all the support and guidance throughout my degree-seeking years and internship experience. I couldn’t have achieved my goals without their help,” said Benson-Carlough.

CIRI shareholders Samuel and Donita Peter announce the graduation of their daughter, Staff Sergeant Sarah Goodman, on Feb. 9. Goodman joined the Air Force in 1999 after she graduated from Kenai Alternative School. Goodman earned her fourth stripe in October when she officially became a staff sergeant. In March 2004, she was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq and will soon return for another four-month deployment. In her five years of service, Goodman has earned the following Air Force awards, ribbons and medals: Achievement Medal; Organizational Excellence Award; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War On Terrorism Service Medal; Longevity Service Medal; USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon; and her Training Ribbon.

CIRI shareholder Don Kashevaroff and his wife Sandra celebrated their first anniversary at the Dimond Center Hotel with a Hawaiian luau. Sandra and Don were married Oct. 20, 2003, in Maui, Hawaii. Sandra is the daughter of Ella and Clark Pearson of Cordova. Don is the son of CIRI shareholder Norman and Pumi Kashevarof of Anchorage, and grandson of CIRI shareholder John and Darlene Crawford of Seldovia. Don is the chairman of the board and president of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, chairman of Seldovia Native Association and president of the Seldovia Village Tribe.