Our Students
The Bristol Bay Foundation is honored to have provided over $13,271,000 in scholarships to over 5,000 students.
By investing in our youth, we invest in our future.
This spring, we received the highest number of scholarship applications in foundation history for a single academic year. We were able to fund 232 awards. Desire for education continues to grow, and our goal is to help all BBNC shareholders and descendants who seek a post-secondary credential or degree to succeed. Your support uplifts this mission.
Meet our students. See your impact.
Meet D’Alan.
This Fairbanks resident grew up in Anchorage with roots in Togiak. He is now a student at the barbering school, Beyond the Mirror.
His passion for cutting hair ignited when he was in boarding school. He started cutting his own hair when he found it difficult to get a haircut. The more he taught himself, the more he enjoyed the process and soon started cutting others hair. Positive feedback and encouragement pushed him to start thinking about a career as a barber. His dorm mentor and manager Ox gifted him his first set of barber tools.
D'Alan has a twofold plan for his future. He wants to open salons and barbershops across the state. His hope is to create opportunities for other Alaska Native people to enter the barbering business, while also using social media platforms to spread positivity, advice, and awareness of his craft.
One of his favorite memories is cutting the hair of 23 crew members in a span of four days while he was working 16-hour days on a pollock trawler. D’Alan says he also prioritizes giving back to his community. A few times each year he offers free haircuts to those in need.
“I believe creating relationships with people through haircuts is very important—whether being a role model to younger kids, bringing confidence to my community or becoming a friend to those around me.”
We have no doubt D’Alan will always be a cut above and create positive change a long his journey.
Meet Torrie.
Torrie McCormick has a heart for helping others. She knew since she was a child that she wanted to live out loud the true meaning of the common phrase, it takes a village!
Growing up in Chignik Lake she understood the value and importance of community. Following in family members footsteps, she had her sights set on being in the medical field and supporting the health of those in her village.
Torrie enrolled as a full-time student at Alaska Career College in Anchorage. She graduated last year with her Certified Medical Assistant credentials. Now she works at Alaska Native Primary Care Center. She says her favorite part of the job is getting to know the patients she serves.
Her journey to living out her dream was full of hard work and one she describes as a positive growing experience. Her advice to other students?
“Even when it seems too hard, keep going, it’ll be worth it in the end!”
Congratulations Torrie on seeing your dreams become reality.
