Hallie Bissett is a CIRI historian intern this summer. She is a CIRI shareholder who is planning to attend Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado this fall, where she will be a freshman. Bissett, who is of Athabascan descent from the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, plans to pursue a degree in business and hopes to eventually have a successful and fulfilling career.

She heard about the intern program from her mother and says, "I've learned more in two months about Native history than I did throughout school."

Jessica Bissett is a tourism/community relations intern. She is a CIRI shareholder who has been attending Edmonds College in Washington, but plans to transfer to Dartmouth where she'll study music, romantic languages and acoustic bass performance. After she gets her degree, she wants to return to Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Valley and teach at the secondary level. Bissett is an avid supporter of the arts and is a singer with the Soundsation jazz choir of Edmonds, Wash. Soundsation performs at the University of Alaska Jazz Festival held in Anchorage every March. Bissett, who is of Athabascan descent, says, "Interning at CIRI has given me many wonderful opportunities, and I have especially enjoyed working on the CIRI golf tournament this summer."

George Dixon is a Sealaska shareholder and was raised in Haines and Juneau, Alaska. Dixon is a property management intern and plans to attend Butte College in Chico, Calif. this fall. Dixon is of Tlingit decent and hopes to one day own a business.

Anthony Kiana, a descendant of CIRI shareholder Chris Kiana Sr., is a geographic information systems intern in CIRI's land department. Kiana is majoring in mechanical engineering at UAA and will be entering his sophomore year.

After he gets his degree, he would like to work for an engineering firm. Kiana, who is of Inupiaq descent, read about the CIRI intern program in the CIRI newsletter and was referred by Alaska's People. According to Kiana, "CIRI is a flexible and pleasant place to work."

Danielle Larsen, an Aleut and Athabascan CIRI descendant, is an intern in the tourism department. Larsen is a junior at UAA, and is working on a bachelor's degree in English. She would eventually like to pursue a Ph.D. in literature and teach at the university level. In addition to her studies at UAA, Larsen is a member of the Native Student Council and works as a tutor for the university's department of developmental education. "I really enjoy working here with the tourism gang and love learning about CIRI's tourism businesses," says Larsen, who is a proud parent of six-year-old daughter Victoria.

CIRI descendant Shampagne Magee is a property management intern who learned of the internship program through the CIRI newsletter. Magee plans to attend UAA this fall to major in elementary education.

Another property management intern is Rodney McCord, a CIRI descendant and high school senior of Athabascan descent. "I like working at CIRI, and I hope to come back next summer," said McCord.

CIRI shareholder Naomi Miller is an accounting department intern pursuing a bachelor's degree in accounting at UAA. Entering her junior year this fall, Miller would like to work as an accountant for a Native affiliated company once she graduates. "My internship experience at CIRI has given me the drive and incentive to finish my degree," said Miller, who was raised in Homer, Alaska and is of Aleut, Athabascan, Inupiaq, and Yupik descent. Aside from school and working, Miller is the mother of four children, two boys and two girls ranging from four to 21 years of age.

CIRI shareholder Paneen Petersen works as an intern in CIRI's land department. She will graduate this fall with a bachelor of science degree in anthropology from UAA. She is interested in continuing her anthropology studies at UAA with their new master's in anthropology degree program. Ultimately, she would like a career in public health and may, eventually, pursue a medical degree because of her interest in epidemiology. Peterson is of Inupiaq descent and is from the Anchorage area. She heard about the CIRI intern program through Alaska's People. "I'm happy to have found a career that gives me the opportunity to stay in Alaska and that will also benefit the Alaska Native community," shares Peterson.

Legal intern Leesa Straley is the daughter of CIRI shareholder Gertrude Miller Ah'Nee and is of Inupiaq descent raised in Anchorage. Straley is working on a Juris Doctorate at Gonzaga University's School of Law in Spokane, Wash. When she completes her degree, she plans to return to Alaska to practice law.

Straley, who heard about the intern program from The CIRI Foundation, says, "This is my second year interning at CIRI, and the knowledge and experience that I've gained from the people I work with have been invaluable to me."

Ryan Weldin, a property management intern, plans to attend college when he finishes high school next spring. A CIRI descendent, Weldin grew up in Anchorage and is the son of Richard Weldin and nephew of Carol Gore.

Linda Yingling, another property management intern, will be taking classes in UAA's dental program this fall and aspires to be a dental hygienist. Yingling is a CIRI shareholder of Inupiaq descent and was born in Anchorage and raised in Maryland.