ARCTIC Partnerships Opens Career Pathways for Interior Alaska Students

Exciting opportunities are on the horizon for Interior Alaskan youth. In June, the Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship & Training Trust (AJEATT) offered a training session, thanks to a grant from the Alaska Department of Education Career and Technical Education department, in which teachers and school counselors from across Alaska learned how the program can support high school students. The initiative provides a direct pathway to an electrical apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The training was highly successful, fostering widespread excitement about offering students an excellent opportunity to launch directly into a rewarding career after high school.

The Alaska Regional Career and Technical Interior Consortium (ARCTIC) and Pathfinder Solutions have partnered with AJEATT to give students a head start on a career pathway leading to the IBEW apprenticeship program after graduation. Students from the Interior region will soon have access to a yearlong IBEW credential program through ARCTIC. This program is much more than a traditional high school class; it is designed as a direct roadway to a career, helping young Alaskans build hands-on skills, explore the electrical trade, and prepare for future apprenticeship opportunities.

This fall, ARCTIC will bring several other new career and technical education opportunities to high school students in Interior Alaska, leading directly from the classroom to registered apprenticeship programs and the workforce. ARCTIC is a collaborative partnership among the Alaska Gateway School District, Delta-Greely School District, and Copper River School District. Intensive, week-long trainings through ARCTIC will expand access to industry-connected learning.

ARCTIC will offer the young electrician’s program being developed in partnership with Pathfinder Solutions and AJEATT, as well as specialized training through partnerships with the Fairbanks Alaska Pipeline Training Center, the Alaska Ironworkers Local 751 Training Program, and the Plumbers and Steamfitters UA Local 367. Students will also have access to training with Alaska Metal and Mechanical, alongside health career exploration through the Alaska Area Health Education Center (AHEC).

Additional anticipated pathways include aviation, hospitality and culinary arts, and alternative energy with a focus on biomass and solar energy. These programs are intended to give students practical experience, introduce them to high-demand careers, and strengthen the future workforce of Interior Alaska. 

Thank you to Jerry Jones, ARCTIC Director; Zach Stenson with Pathfinder Solutions; district superintendents Patrick Mayer of Alaska Gateway School District, Michael Lee of Delta-Greely School District, and Theresa Laville of Copper River School District; and the ARCTIC board members for helping create this incredible opportunity for Interior youth.