2025 Close-Up trip

The 2025 Migrant Ed Close-Up trip started on April 25th and the 16 participating Alaskan students arrived back in Alaska on May 4th. The Core Close-Up students included were Rebekah Ames, Nova Paul, Marco Harvan, Justin Walsh, Marion Sam, Tenyelle Gunter, Talise Frank, and Penelope Culbertson. The Native Youth Summit students included were Cheyanne Hipp, Allison Demit, Alexis Rodriquez, Jasmine Jimmie, BernaDean Simmonds, Chance Sanford, Seth Sam, and Duane Craig. 

The Migrant Ed program is a resource for students whose families travel for subsistence reasons. A few of the AGSD’s Migrant Ed students received the opportunity to take a trip to Washington D.C. and New York City this past week to learn about history. Every other year, there is a Close-Up trip for the migrant education students who submit an application and write a three-page essay as to why they should be chosen to go on the trip. 

Rebekah Ames, a migrant education student who attended, was interviewed about her experience on the trip. When asked why she chose to go, she claimed, “It seemed like a super fun experience to be able to learn more about the government in person and see interesting historic sites and memorials, as well as get the opportunity to travel far away from Alaska and experience different and exciting new cities and places.” 

Rebekah stated that this trip taught her how to become more confident in the way that she engages in political discussions with others and expresses her thoughts and opinions. When asked what she learned, she said, “I got to travel to war memorials, 9/11 memorials, the Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR, and MLK memorials, the Capitol building, Native cultures and art museums, Arlington Cemetery, Central Park, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Additionally, I got to see a live Broadway show, go to the top of a VERY tall building, explore both Washington DC and New York City, shop at malls, and eat out at many different restaurants.” 

Her favorite part about the trip was “going to The Great Gatsby on Broadway. It was by far one of the coolest things I have been able to experience; the costumes were gorgeous, the sets were magical, each actor's singing voice was beautifully powerful, and the way it all worked together was breathtaking.” Her least favorite part of the trip was “the extreme amounts of walking we did each day. The most amount of steps, according to my health app, that I took on a given day was over 18,000. My feet hurt quite a bit near the end of the trip.” 

Lastly, she was asked if she would recommend this trip to others and she stated “Yes. A thousand times yes. It was the coolest trip I’ve ever gone on. It is extremely interesting and educational as well as just super fun. You get to see gorgeous sites and make friendships that may last a lifetime.”

If you are a Migrant Ed student around the Tok area, there will be another opportunity next year. So make sure to pay attention if you would like a chance to participate!