Southcentral Foundation's Gottlieb Receives Honorary Doctorate
CIRI shareholder Katherine Gottlieb, president and chief executive officer of Southcentral Foundation, was recently awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Alaska Pacific University. The Doctor of Public Service, honoris causa, recognizes her extraordinary public service. Gottlieb also served as the keynote speaker at the April 30 graduation ceremony. "This is certainly a wonderful achievement. Katherine's work on behalf of Southcentral Foundation and her successful efforts to improve health care for Alaska's Native people are very deserving of this type of recognition," said CIRI President and Chief Executive Officer Margie Brown.

CIRI Shareholders Receive Advanced Degrees
Several CIRI shareholders and Southcentral Foundation employees were recently honored with advanced degrees from Alaska Pacific University at the April graduation. Ileen Sylvester, vice president, executive and tribal services, and Diane Tigges, operations systems administrator, both received a Master of Business Administration. Loretta B. Flaitz, a doctor of optometry and lieutenant in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corp., also earned a Master of Business Administration and Kevin Matier, intake coordinator for the Pathway Home, received a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology.

Baby Katarina
CIRI shareholder Jessica E. Newhall and CIRI descendant Douglas D. Andrews welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Katarina Felicity - Lynn Andrews who was born on Oct. 28, 2004, at 6:15 p.m. She weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20 inches long. Katarina is the granddaughter of CIRI shareholder Larina A. Newhall and great- granddaughter of Elsie Joe.

Congratulations Colorado Grad
CIRI shareholder and scholarship recipient Helena Angeline Pagano graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder on Dec. 17, 2004, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Science.

Congratulations to UAA Graduate
CIRI descendant Eva Rose Sinyon received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Alaska Anchorage on May 1. Her parents are CIRI shareholder Bradley Sinyon of Valdez and Dee Grant of Fairbanks. Her grandpa is Fred Sinyon of Anchorage.

Rev. Bismark-Nickanorka Receives Ordination
Rev. Allen Bismark-Nickanorka, a CIRI shareholder, was approved for an ordination credential and was recognized during an ordination service at the 2005 Alaska District Council of the Assemblies of God in April. The Alaska District Council represents the fellowship of the Assemblies of God throughout the state of Alaska, which has churches or ministries in more than 80 Alaskan locations.

Baby Aaliyah
Aaliyah Ann Tiedeman (Athabascan, Aleut and Yup'ik) was born Dec. 17, 2004, at 12:09 p.m. at the Alaska Native Medical Center. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and was 19 inches. Her proud parents are Sara Myszka and CIRI shareholder Nick Tiedeman, of Cordova, Alaska. Her grandparents include Paul and Laura Myszka of Phelps, Wis., and Fred and Ruth Tiedeman of Granite Falls, Wash. Great grandfather Robert Lugar lives in Phelps, Wis.

Congratulations Graduate Stefanowicz
CIRI shareholder Elaine Courtney Stefanowicz is graduating from Chapman University with a Master of Science in Human Resources. Elaine would like to thank her parents, Bob and Nancy Courtney, for helping her through the program and for their constant encouragement and never-ending belief in her. She also thanks her six-year-old son Michael, who is her inspiration, and her brother and CIRI shareholder, Don Courtney, who lives in Wisconsin. Elaine is especially appreciative of The CIRI Foundation and Cook Inlet Tribal Council, who have helped make her educational dreams a reality. She sends a special thanks to Susan Anderson-who was always there with an encouraging word when most needed.

Elaine plans to pursue a doctorate degree from the Fielding Institute. She recently started a new job at Tacoma Community College as a recruitment assistant in the human resources office and will teach her first college class in career readiness skills in the fall.

Elaine wants to remind all CIRI shareholders and descendants to never give up on their educational goals and dreams. "Look at the big picture. Higher education isn't just for you but also for the people who came before you and the people who will come after you," she says.

She's proud to say, "I graduated from high school with a 2.3 GPA and will graduate from my master's program with a 4.0 GPA. If I can do it, anybody can. GO FOR IT!"

Graduate Huhndorf
CIRI shareholder and CIRI Foundation recipient Michael Huhndorf recently graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Alaska Pacific University. Huhndorf also holds a B.A. in History from Western State College and plans to teach in Anchorage. "I am very grateful to the CIRI Foundation for the generous funding and faith in my potential. I look forward to passing the torch of opportunity on to others and hope to someday find employment within the CIRI family," said Huhndorf.

Fish On for Little Blatchford
CIRI shareholder Charlie Blatchford III is proud to announce that his four-year-old son, Charlie Blatchford IV, caught a 6 pound largemouth bass in Lake Ballinger, located in Washington, on April 17. With his 3-foot Scoobydoo rod with bobber and night crawler combo, little Charlie calmly said, "Daddy, I've got a fish." Normally his father releases bass, but this was a once in a lifetime catch.

In Touch correction for April:
Don Kashevaroff is the son of CIRI shareholder John and Darlene Crawford of Seldovia, Alaska.