Alaskans gathered in Juneau to commemorate WICHE’s 50th anniversary on February 18th, 2004. The evening reception for state legislators, UA Regents and administrators was co-sponsored by the University of Alaska Board of Regents. Alaska WICHE Commissioners Johnny Ellis, Marshall Lind, and Diane Barrans greeted participants in the event.

Diane Barrans, Executive Director of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, welcomed the invitees and briefly commented on the benefits Alaska has enjoyed over the decades as a member of the regional compact.

Senator Johnny Ellis introduced former state senator and WICHE Commissioner, Arliss Sturgulewski. Sturgulewski, a commissioner for twelve years, serving from 1982 to 1994, was elected vice chair in 1985 and subsequently served as chair in 1986. Arliss offered her perspective on the importance of WICHE in providing professional education opportunity as Alaska matured and developed as a state.

Barrans introduced WICHE Executive Director David Longanecker, who spoke about the importance of WICHE’s ability to stay attuned to changes in member states’ higher education needs and to react positively to emerging resource needs, whether that is through modification in the foundational student exchange programs or through development of new services such as WICHE’s NEON program that facilitates resource-sharing in a virtual training delivery mode.

^ WICHE commissioner Diane Barrans, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education executive director; WICHE commissioner Johnny Ellis, state senator

^ David Longanecker, WICHE executive director; Arliss Sturgulewski, former state senator and WICHE commissioner

^ David Longanecker; Johnny Ellis; Arliss Sturgulewski

^ David Longanecker; WICHE commissioner Marshall Lind, University of Alaska Fairbanks chancellor; Arliss Sturgulewski; John Pugh, University of Alaska Southeast chancellor

^ Diane Barrans; Arliss Sturgulewski; David Longanecker   

^ Diane Barrans; Jeannie Phillips, University of Alaska Board of Regents officer; Marshall Lind; John Pugh

^Cynthia Henry, University of Alaska Board of Regents member, and Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education member; Carl Gatto, state representative, and Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education member

^Jean Ellis, aide to Representative Peggy Wilson; Michael Burns, University of Alaska Board of Regents member

^Mary Hughes, University of Alaska Board of Regents member; Cynthia Henry; Carl Gatto

^Brian Rogers, University of Alaska Board of Regents chair; Johnny Ellis

^David Parks, University of Alaska Board of Regents student regent; Mary Hughes and Cynthia Henry, University of Alaska Board of Regents members