Hallie Bissett is an intern who has spent two summers working with CIRI historian A.J. McClanahan. She is a sophomore at Fort Lewis College, a tribal college located in Durango, Colo., and is majoring in business with a focus on tourism and resort management. A CIRI shareholder of Athabascan heritage, Bissett is a member of Knik Tribal Council. While she looks forward to returning to school this fall, she has learned a lot about Alaska Native history through her research this summer.

Jessica Bissett has interned at CIRI for the past two summers to assist with the CIRI golf tournament, which benefits The CIRI Foundation. A CIRI shareholder of Athabascan heritage, as well as a member of Knik Tribal Council, she looks forward to living and studying in Washington this winter. She will be transferring from Edmonds College to Central Washington University where she'll double major in math and music followed by a pursuit of a master's in teaching. Afterward, she plans to go on to the Ph.D. level where she'll focus on Native American issues specifically related to education. Bissett says she is glad to have the opportunity to be involved in organizing the golf tournament because the proceeds help scholarship and grant recipients achieve their career and educational goals.

Danielle Erkmann, an intern in the legal department, grew up in Anchorage and is a West High School graduate. She received her bachelor's degree from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Virginia in 1995. This spring, she will receive her law degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson and will spend her last year of law school working for Arizona Senator Jon Kyl on the judiciary committee. She says her intern experience has been enjoyable as well as a great learning experience.

Justin Hatton, a CIRI descendent of Aleut heritage, is a summer grounds-keeping intern. He recently received his high school diploma and looks forward to attending the University of Alaska in the near future, where he'll work towards a computer and business related degree. He's also interested in music and would like to combine his interests in computers and music. In his spare time, he likes to play basketball. He says that he

has learned important job skills while working as a summer intern at CIRI and that his supervisor, Sandra Volkheimer, is a great person to work with as are the rest of the grounds-keeping interns.

Naomi Miller is an intern for the accounting department. Raised in Homer, she is a CIRI shareholder of Athabascan, Aleut and Eskimo heritage. She will complete her bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) in spring of 2001. A single mother of four children, Miller said, "My internship experience at CIRI and my children have given me the drive and incentive to finish my degree."

Michelle Mullins is a second-year intern in the tourism department where she works on accounts receivable. A CIRI shareholder of Inupiaq heritage, she was born and raised in Anchorage. This fall, Mullins will be a full-time student at UAA majoring in accounting and hopes to become a certified public accountant. She is the proud parent of four children and feels lucky to be able to intern at CIRI. Mullins says, "It's been a very worthwhile experience to learn so much about the accounting field and to have the unique opportunity to work with so many people in the tourism industry."

Zack Munsterman is a summer grounds-keeping intern. He finished his freshman year at the University of Idaho where he's majoring in geological engineering. When he has time, he likes to play the guitar and snowboard. A CIRI descendent of Aleut descent, he recently found out that he and co-worker Justin Hatton are cousins.

Anna Smith is a public relations intern writing for the CIRI newsletter. A CIRI shareholder of Tlingit heritage, she looks forward to finishing up her Master of Arts degree in English at UAA. She will be completing her thesis during the fall semester and will complete her Masters of Fine Arts in

creative writing in the spring. She'd like to go on to a Ph.D. program in English or creative writing. Smith says, "I've learned a lot about writing while working on the CIRI newsletter. My internship experience and my daughter have inspired me to grow as a writer and to finish my degree."

Doug Williams is also a grounds-keeping intern. A CIRI descendent of Athabascan and Tlingit heritage, he recently received his high school diploma and is planning to study environmental quality engineering at UAA, where he'd like to focus on water quality management. In his spare time, he enjoys going to movies. He likes being a grounds-keeping intern because he is part of a great team and he has learned a lot from them.

Jason Williams is another grounds-keeping intern for the real estate department. A CIRI descendent of Athabascan and Tlingit descent, he looks forward to gaining carpentry, construction and electrical vocational training in the near future. In his spare time, he enjoys boxing and has entered several amateur bouts where he's found great success. He says the mental and physical training to prepare for boxing is challenging and personally rewarding. He also likes interning for CIRI because he enjoys working outdoors and he gets to work with a great group of people.

Mary Anne Woods is a third summer intern working in the CIRI Alaska Tourism accounting department. She is a CIRI descendant of Alutiiq heritage as well as a Koniag shareholder. She was born and raised in Anchorage and is a student at UAA majoring in accounting. Her goal is to become a certified public accountant. Woods says, "This internship has been a rewarding as well as an eye opening experience. Not only have I been given the opportunity to practice within my chosen field of study and witness the value and importance of accurate accounting practices, I have been fortunate enough to work with a fantastic group of people."