Homer Alaska - Schools

"You're the last Homer High School students to hear him speak," said Carol Swartz, director of Kachemak Bay Campus, Kenai Peninsula College-University of Alaska Anchorage, referring to Hamilton's upcoming retirement. Hamilton announced in June 2009 he plans to leave his post after 12 years of leading the16-campus system.

University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton

It was not his upcoming retirement that Hamilton addressed with the students, however.

"My message is that we very much want you to come to your state university," Hamilton told the students assembled in Mariner Theatre.

Getting down to details, one student asked, "Why is it cheaper here in town that at UAA?"

The question offered Hamilton the perfect opportunity to point to the Kenai Peninsula Borough's "Jump Start" program. Through a collaborative effort with the Kenai Peninsula College, the borough program allows students to take as many as six college credits per semester, beginning the summer after their junior year, for a total of 18 college credits before high school graduation. With the cost of a University of Alaska credit approximately $145, borough students pay $45 and the borough pays the remaining $100.

"This is the best education deal in the entire country; $145 a credit is a fantastic deal; $45 is outrageous," Hamilton said.

"What is the average class size?" asked another student.

"I would guess it's 17-18," said Hamilton.

Although some classes at the University of Alaska may have as many as 40-50 students, Hamilton compared those to courses at larger universities where students number into the hundreds and are taught by teaching assistants.

"The real key is that the person standing in front of you is a professor rather than someone working on a degree," Hamilton said.

The university's Alaska Scholars program is another effort to encourage Alaska students to stay in state. Calling it "his baby," Hamilton said he designed the program to attract the top 10 percent of students from each high school graduating class by offering each of those students a scholarship totaling $11,000.

"I really do want you to stay in the state of Alaska. I want the citizens of Alaska to be the leaders of Alaska," said Hamilton, adding that he saw Alaska Scholars as a way to bring students from across the state together. "I want you to meet and get to know people that are very different from you so all of us can resolve the seemingly intractable problems of the state of Alaska."

Holding the promise of additional financial support for students who remain in state, the Governor's Performance Scholarship is currently waiting approval by the Legislature. As proposed by Gov. Sean Parnell, the eligibility requirements for GPS include four years of math and English and specified grade point averages.

"Even if you have a C-plus, you can still qualify for some assistance," said Hamilton. "Yesterday (Parnell) added another incentive, a needs-based portion so if you qualify academically, dollars are given based on a family's income. It's a powerful move on the governor's part."

Finances aside, Hamilton stressed the importance of being prepared for life after high school.

"A fact since 1950 is that 23 percent of all jobs in America required a four-year degree," said Hamilton. "Ninety percent of the (remaining) 77 percent need post-secondary education. A high school diploma will not do it."

Being prepared to step from high school to college was a major part of Hamilton's comments.

"Seventy-five percent of high school teachers think students are ready for college; 75 percent of college teachers think they aren't," said Hamilton. "Preparation through high school is essential to maintain options for jobs."

Gary Turner, president of Kenai Peninsula College, encouraged the students to consider enrolling at KPC, with classes offered in Soldotna, Homer and Seward, with some programs in Anchorage.

"We're the fastest growing campus in the University of Alaska," Turner said. "Years ago people said KPC was sort of an old people's college, but today 50 percent of the students are 18-24 years old, 25 percent are under 29."

Swartz noted a dozen Homer High School graduates who enrolled at larger, out-of-state colleges that have returned to the area to take advantage of the personal attention a smaller setting offers.

"Sixty-three percent of all Alaskans attending college enroll at the University of Alaska," Hamilton said. "Do yourself a favor; start here."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com