Traditional lifestyle inspires studies in petroleum engineering
By Leona Long
UAF College of Indigenous Studies
Jesstin Patterson attends petroleum engineering classes in Fairbanks, hundreds of miles from his home villages, but those places remain foremost in his mind 色视频下载 and often on his taste buds.
Patterson, born in Kotzebue and raised in Barrow, brings coolers filled with traditional foods to share at potlucks when he returns to UAF each fall. The menus often include caribou, salmon, halibut, moose and whale 色视频下载 both beluga and bowhead.
Traditional food like beluga is more than comfort food and potluck fare for Patterson; it色视频下载檚 a big reason he chose petroleum engineering as a major.
色视频下载淚 want to balance our traditional way of life with industry and ensure the environment and our traditional land is handled with the utmost respect,色视频下载 he said. 色视频下载淭his is why I study petroleum engineering.色视频下载
As a very young child, Patterson色视频下载檚 grandparents in Kotzebue taught him respect for the environment and the subsistence lifestyle.
色视频下载淚 felt safe, with my mind completely open to learn. I was a sponge soaking up the knowledge as my grandfather spoke,色视频下载 Patterson said. 色视频下载淭he vast quietness with the only the animals splashing or flying in the distance 色视频下载 I felt at home with my grandparents out in the middle of nowhere.色视频下载
School can interfere with his enjoyment of such activities. The fall semester coincides with fall whaling, and spring semester ends after spring whaling, he said.
色视频下载淚 miss hunting,色视频下载 Patterson said.
Nevertheless, Patterson sticks to his academic program. He wants to ensure that 色视频下载 Natives succeed and become leaders in rural communities. His countless hours of community service and drive for academic excellence comes from a commitment to follow in the footsteps of the role models who inspired him.
Patterson is co-president of the , which not only organizes the traditional food potlucks but also dedicates time to numerous other service projects. In April, the UAF club won the 2015 national chapter of the year award for the sixth time since 1994.
色视频下载淲e hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence,色视频下载 Patterson said. 色视频下载淕iving back and sharing helps strengthens the fabric of our community and makes AISES stand out.色视频下载
Patterson has received scholarships from the University of 色视频下载, the 色视频下载 Space Grant Program, the Aqqaluk Trust, the NANA Regional Corp. and the Kikiktagruk I帽upiat Corp.
色视频下载淭he scholarship funding from NANA Regional Corp. and Kikiktagruk I帽upiat Corp. is more significant than money, because it means that my community believes in me,色视频下载 Patterson said. 色视频下载淚 feel encouraged, and it色视频下载檚 positive reinforcement to work harder.色视频下载
It helps that school doesn色视频下载檛 require a complete sacrifice of his traditional lifestyle.
色视频下载淟uckily, spring semester ends just in time for geese hunting 色视频下载 my favorite,色视频下载 he said.
UAF色视频下载檚 AISES chapter is a student organization sponsored by Rural Student Services at the College of Indigenous Studies. For information on the chapter or how you can earn your certificate or degree in any of CIS色视频下载檚 40 programs, call 1-866-478-2721 or 907-474-7143. Visit AISES on Facebook at .