By Audrey Saganna Jr., Ilisagvik College Student
2026 American Indian College Fund Student of the Year Recipient
AIHEC 2026 March 15, 2026 Student of the Year; Audrey Saganna Jr.
Being named Student of the Year is something I’m incredibly grateful for, but to me it represents much more than just an award. At Ilisagvik College (IC), I’ve grown as both a student and a leader and get to express my passion by giving back to my community.
Through my involvement in the Student Government Association (SGA), my main concentration is to create purposeful changes that directly uplift our students here at IC. I’m a big advocate of mental health and wellness, as I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to continue one’s education when placed in a tough spot. Right now, I’m working on establishing a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter on campus, so students have access to more support and resources. Mental health issues affect so many people, and I want to create spaces where students feel safe, supported, and not alone.
Through cultural events and fundraisers, I push to make changes that matter to students. I’ve helped organize Native American Heritage month events that celebrate our culture and history. We’ve created cultural spirit weeks to encourage students to show pride in their cultures alongside Niqipiaq Day, where we bring people together through the celebration of traditional foods. Everyone provides foods like bowhead whale, caribou, homemade bread, berries, etc, that we prepare a couple hours before enjoying it amongst each other. It’s one way we keep our traditions strong and also provide for the students who want to eat or experience traditional foods while being away from home.
Niqipiaq Day February 26, 2026: dorm students and staff (left to right): John Duterte, Chloe Araya, Allan Punla, Audrey Saganna Jr.
IC is special because it’s a place where Native Alaskans reconnect and learn about who we are while pursuing our education. It is a space where we can be unapologetically Inupiaq and provides an environment that centers culture and community and supports students in building their sense of identity and purpose. The support I’ve received from the College Fund has helped motivate me to continue my educational journey and stay focused on my goals. I’m planning to use my degree in wildlife biology and conservation to take care of the land and animals because it is a big part of who we are as Inupiat people and I want to be a part of preserving our home and culture for future generations. I’m very proud of where I come from and the work I’m doing, and I’m excited to keep building on it in the future.
