1999 Contribution to Literacy in Alaska Award Winners

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Joan Borash | Jacqueline Hutchins | Diana Campbell

Each year the Center presents the Contribution to Literacy in Alaska (CLIA) award to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of literacy, literary arts, or the preservation of the printed word in Alaska. The Alaska Center for the Book presented four Contribution to Literacy in Alaska awards at a gala dinner event during Writing Rendezvous 1999. The event will be held April 17 at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Each of the four awards presented this year honor accomplishments which have furthered stated goals of the Alaska Center for the Book: 1) Promote literacy and the love of reading; 2) Celebrate the written and spoken word; 3) Honor and recognize Alaskan writers and works about Alaska. Recipients of the 1999 CLIA awards are:

Hunik Zoo' -- Hunik Zoo', a native term form "Good News" or "Beautiful Messenger," is a 12 page tabloid-size paper comprised of stories and art by kids of the Fairbanks Northstar Borough and interior Bush schools. The publication encourages children to read and write both in English and in their own Native language. Students share information on their everyday lives, but also summit articles, stories and artwork concerning traditions of their culture. Each issue also carries many drug prevention messages from students. The paper provides a forum for children to showcase their work and learn about the lives of other children who live in rural Alaskan villages. Hunik Zoo' has over 18 years of publishing Alaskan student work. Struggling young readers and writers are encouraged when their work appears in their own paper. As a result, thousands of children learn about self-esteem, other kids, other cultures and the dangers of substance abuse, all while learning to read and write. Hunik Zoo' sends 10, 200 copies to 42 Interior Alaska Athabascan village K-12 schools, 23 elementary schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough and 10 schools outside the Tanana Chiefs Conference's region. Interest in Hunik Zoo' has generated request from as far away as Florida, California and Hawaii.

Joan Borash -- There is not a single Anchorage Friends of the Library event that does not bear the personal stamp of Joan Borash's hours, energy, enthusiasm and love for libraries. Borash was involved in bringing back the popular " Live at the Library" summer, noontime concerts at Loussac Library, and now single-handedly runs the program. She is also an active in volunteer recruitment and management of the Gift Shop. Borash's official position with the Anchorage Friends of the Library is treasurer and membership chair. However, the titles are deceiving in their simplicity. She has been serving as a veritable Executive Director since the organization became an all-volunteer organization in 1996. When the Executive Director left, membership was falling and finances were nearly depleted. Through the efforts of Borash, the organization is now a major contributor to the success of the library. Since 1997, Friends of the Library financed over $78,000 in library programs and materials. "I feel so strongly about the value of the public library," says Borash, herself a life-long librarian. "In this age of information, the public library has something for everyone."

Gustavus Reading Buddy Summer Program -- For the past seven years, the Gustavus Public Library in cooperation with the Gustavus School and the community of Gustavus (pop 380), has made a successful effort to insure that all young people in the community learn to read. Since the advent of the Reading Buddy program, no child has lost ground in his/her reading over the summer months. Many emerging readers have made the leap into reading with their summer reading buddies. Lasting friendships have also developed between readers and their buddies; and students with buddies go home and model the importance of reading to younger siblings. Through the Reading Buddy Summer Program, volunteers in the community sign up to read for a minimum of one hour a week with a pre-schooler through 3rd grade student, or with special needs students or adults. Children's librarian Lynne Jensen says, "With volunteers contributing more than 300 hours each summer, we are very proud of our community's commitment to literacy for the young people of Gustavus."

Jacqueline Hutchins -- Jacqueline Hutchins has been a personal tutor in language arts and reading for young people struggling with reading. In one particular case, she tutored a young man over a period of at least two years to help him improve his reading skills. During this time, she read a variety of books on teaching reading so that she could help students in the most effective way. She put a great deal of time and effort into meeting with students one on one in her home, teaching them the reading and writing skills they need to succeed in life. Hutchins has also offered hundreds of volunteer hours to the Recreational Reading Program sponsored by Rabbit Creek PTA at Rabbit Creek Elementary School. She was the chairman of the program during 1997-98 school year and has been on the program committee ever since. Hutchins also promotes literacy for American Mothers, Inc., a national organization. As 1997 Mother of Young Children Representative for the state of Alaska, she invited the Anchorage Literacy Project director to conduct a workshop for American Mothers members in Anchorage. "To say I am fanatical about books is an understatement," Hutchins says. The mother of three boys ages 13, 10 and 8, she makes books and reading an integral part of her family's life. "Some people decorate in modern decor," she says. "We decorate in books."