Alaska Native Encourages Others to Pursue Dream

6 comments Written on August 4th, 2011     
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SOLDOTNA, AK (August 4, 2011) – Rae Fancher grew up in the impoverished rural Alaskan villages of Bethel and Unalakleet, where she bore a lot of the responsibility to care for her younger brothers and sister. The teenager was bitter and angry.

Today she is the first female Alaska Native graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Fancher credits Alaska Christian College (ACC) with making it possible.

The school’s mission is “to empower Alaska Natives through biblically based education and Christian formation to pursue excellence in character, learning, and service as followers of Christ.” The college is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska (ECCAK).

Fewer than five percent of Alaska Native high school graduates complete their first semester of college, statistics show. ACC helps students – most from small and even remote villages – transition through their first years of college.

Fancher, 25, intended to join the Navy, but needed to wait a year after she graduated high school. Her older brother had attended ACC, and when he returned home, she saw the college had made a difference in his life. “It was something I wanted for myself,” she told the Peninsula Clarion newspaper recently.

Fancher was forced to adapt to numerous cultural changes when she attended the college. Those changes were as small as getting used to paved roads in Soldotna – there were none where she grew up.

While at the school, Fancher was talking with a visiting missionary to the school and shared her dream of joining the Navy. The missionary replied, “Well if you’re going to college and you want to go into the Navy, go to the Naval Academy so you can get both done.”

That was the inspiration she needed. At the time she only knew the Naval Academy was in Maryland and that it was a four-year school.”

She was accepted into the school in 2006, and so began the biggest cultural shock of her life. It almost led her to quit pursuing her dream.

The rigorous schedule and military discipline overwhelmed her. She averaged only three to four hours of sleep each night. It wasn’t until months before graduation that she began to enjoy the experience.

“Up until that point, it was me knowing that this is where God has brought me, this is where Christ has led me, so I’m going to stay the path as much as I hated it,” she says. “Second semester senior year, I was like, ‘You know what, I really like this, I really enjoy this.’ ”

Her GPA was indicative of her struggles. It was only 1.76 at one point, but she graduated with a 3.7.

Fancher is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, as an Ensign. She recently served as the assistant fire control officer working with the Aegis Weapon System aboard the destroyer, USS Jason Dunham.

Fancher hopes her accomplishments will spur young people in Alaskan villages to pursue their own dreams. Last year, she shared her story with campers at the Unalakleet Bible Camp, another ECCAK ministry.

She told them, “Just open yourself up to God and let him do his work, because it’s amazing what he’ll bring you.”

Fancher adds, “I take every opportunity I can to share that.”

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6 comments “Alaska Native Encourages Others to Pursue Dream”

So good to see that ACC is doing what it set out to do!

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Interesting to read this today about a graduate of ACC as Keith Hamilton will be speaking to us here at Mt. Miguel Cov. Village this evening and at Clairemont Cov, on Sunday. We will also enjoy a salmon lunch!

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My husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Rae last year shortly before her graduation from the Naval Academy. Annapolis was on our tour schedule and special friends of Rae were on this tour. As a result, the whole group was blessed to hear Rae tell her story and her praise for ACC. Thanks, Rae for being steadfast and for all that you have accomplished thus far. You are an inspiration. God bless.

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We are so grateful for ACC and it’s influence! It’s amazing to see the growth and opportunities not even dreamed of in the beginnings! Wow! Thanks God and all His faithful servants!!

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Way to go Rae. God be with you in these weeks and years ahead.

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ACC is a wonderful nurturing and training center for our rural kids. I guess, being a lifelong resident of Unalakleet, my only issue I have with the article is the reference to Unalakleet being an “impoverished” community. That is a misstatement. While we have many who might operate at the “Outside” world’s definition of “poverty” we live in such a rich environment where we get a majority of our food from the land and sea. We also have much higher employment than many rural communities, have significantly higher college and high school graduation rates and have a vibrant commercial fishing industry. You wouldn’t walk through our streets and use the word referenced. Beyond that the article is right on and we love what ACC is doing.

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