Peninsula People
Soldotna man officially a Marine
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Marine Corps Pvt. Nicolas Evans of Soldotna recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.
Evans began training at 5 a.m. by running three miles and performing calisthenics. He also spent numerous hours in the classroom and field assignments, learning first aid, uniform regulations, combat water survival, marksman ship, hand-to-hand combat and assorted weapons training.
In addition he received instruction on the Marine Corps values honor, courage and commitment and what the words mean in guiding personal and professional conduct.
Evans achieved the highest level in marksman ship and earned classification as rifle expert. The Marine Corps is the only branch of the military service that requires entry level recruits to fire and qualify with an M-16 from the 200-, 300- and 500-meter line.
The training concluded with The Crucible, a 54-hour, team exercise culminating in a ceremony naming the recruits as Marines for the first time.
Evans is the son of Mark and Karen Evans and a 2003 graduate of the Alaska Military Youth Academy.
Skyview senior takes flight
Zach Koeche
Zach Koecher of Cooper Landing received his private pilot's license Aug. 23 from Sun Aviation Inc. in Cambridge, Minn.
Koecher began his training with ground school in July and received his flight training in a Cessna 172.
He is the son of Wayne and Sharon Koecher and a senior at Skyview High School.
Waltemyer earns science degree Scott Waltemyer of Soldotna recently graduated from Texas A and M University with a master's degree in kinesiology. Waltemyer will work part time for the university in the athletic department while continuing with his graduate studies.
He is the son of David and Stephanie Waltemyer and a 1996 graduate of Skyview High School.
KCHS juniors attend hockey school
Kenai Central High School juniors Micah Lillard and Dustin Moore attended the 31st annual University of North Dakota summer hockey school.
Instruction at the school included power skating, position, small group instruction and good sportsmanship.
Lillard is the son of Dave and Leslie Daniel and plays center position.
Moore is the son of Joe and Kathy Moore and plays wing position.
KCHS grad attends ROTC camp
Ari B. Crane, a 1997 graduate of Kenai Central High School, recently graduated from the Army ROTC National Advanced Leadership Camp at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash.
The camp's primary focus is to develop and evaluate each cadet's officer potential. It also provides the best possible professional training and evaluation for all cadets in the aspects of camp life, administration and logistical support.
He is the son of Dean M. Crane of Kenai and currently attends Kansas State University, Manhattan.
Blackwell to work in congressional office
Michelle Blackwell of Kenai recently was hired as the new staff assistant for the Kenai office of the Alaska Congressional Delegation.
Blackwell has many years of federal government, private industry and volunteer experience. She worked as the executive assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney when he was Secretary of Defense and when he later worked at the American Enterprise Institute; as a staff assistant for the United States Mission in Geneva, Switzerland; as part of the House of Representatives' Republican Conference staff; and as an associate director of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming.
Blackwell also has served as a member of the Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marking Council, the Alaska Raptor Center, Sitka Tribal Enterprises and as a member of the Alaska Travel Industry Association's Marketing Committee.
Swing Choir earns championship award
The Skyview High School Swing Choir, under the direction of Mim McKay, competed in the Mexican Riviera Cruise Festival from April 13 to 19 .
The choir received a superior rating and a first-place trophy.
The choirs high score made it eligible to be entered into competition against other choirs, that participated in one of dozens of other cruise festivals over a three-month period.
At the conclusion of the final festival, all scores were combined to determined the overall high score.
The Swing Choir was awarded the 2003 Cruise Festival Overall Grand Championship Award for Show Choir and was commended on its hard work and dedication.
Peninsula students earn scholarships
Peninsula residents Alison C. Waldsmith of Ninilchik and Abigail R. Zerbe of Soldotna were awarded scholarships from the Alaska Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
The scholarships are awarded to deserving Alaska residents currently enrolled in at least their junior year, or equivalent, of an accredited School of Architecture.
Waldsmith is in her final year of the Masters in Architecture program at the University of Washington in Seattle. She received $3,000.
Zerbe is in her final year of her bachelor's of architecture program at the University of Idaho in Moscow. She received $2,000.
Former resident earns degree
Former Alaska resident Daniel Janik recently was awarded a doctor of philosophy degree in education for linguistics from Bircham International University in Madrid, Spain.
Janik also has a medical degree from Loma Linda University, Calif., and a master's degree from University of California at Berkeley.
Daniel Janik
He currently is on the faculty at Intercultural Communications College (ICC) in Honolulu, Hawaii.
He is the brother of Mary Janik of Soldotna.
Submissions to the Community page may be sent in by fax at 283-3299, by e-mail at clarion@alaska.net or by mail at P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, AK 99611. For more information, call 283-7551.