Homer student Alivia Fefelov has been spending part of her summer participating in the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program’s Acceleration Academy at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Through the program, students further their education and improve their future with access to advanced academic and professional opportunities.

According to a press release, in the Acceleration Academy (Summer) component, students enroll in one to two college math or science courses and participate in interactive Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) modules, from learning about earthquake engineering with balsa wood tower builds to getting a close-up look at biology with a dissection lab. Students earn free college credits and gain valuable hands-on experience while sharpening their social and professional skills.

Students live on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus to gain knowledge of and familiarity with college life and have a place to connect with peers outside the classroom. All rising eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th grade students across Alaska are eligible to apply and participate in the component, which is available to students at no cost and provides two five-week sessions.

Acceleration Academy (Summer) was first introduced in 2009 and led to ANSEP’s full-time Acceleration Academy. The full-time component is available in Anchorage, Bethel and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, with plans to expand the program to Dillingham, Kotzebue and Juneau. ANSEP is also adding a year-round residential element to the Anchorage campus to make the full-time component available for every student in Alaska. Applications for the fall 2022 semester are currently being accepted for Anchorage, Bethel, Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Kotzebue, and the Anchorage-based residential option. Students and parents may sign up at ANSEP.net to be automatically notified when the Dillingham and Juneau applications are released.

Fefelov was one of 23 students representing 11 Alaska communities.