Shareholder Spotlight: Selina Sam
Doyon, Limited Class C shareholder, Selina Sam, of Tanana, with the help of Doyon Foundation’s Morris Thompson competitive scholarship, will graduate in spring 2019 with a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS).
Sam’s parents are the late William and Janice Sam of Tanana. Her maternal grandparents are the late James and Elizabeth Folger of Tanana, and her paternal grandparents are the late Frank and Elma Sam of Alatna.
“I’ve received a Doyon Foundation scholarship almost every semester while I was enrolled in the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and working toward my bachelor’s degree in rural development,” said Sam, who graduated from UAF in 2017. “These scholarships have allowed me to focus on my schoolwork rather than worrying about making financial ends meet.”
Currently, Sam works as the UAF Interior Alaska Campus (IAC) community outreach facilitator and program adviser while working toward her master’s degree online.
In addition to working full-time and taking graduate classes, Sam sits on two boards: Tozitna, Limited, the Tanana village corporation, and the IAC Council.
“I started volunteering for each board about a year ago because I believe it’s important to be involved with things that affect you and your livelihood,” said Sam, who also volunteers with the Tanana Dog Mushers Association and the UAF Festival of Native Arts.
When Sam graduates, she hopes to acquire a public administration position within the University of Alaska system. “Public administration will serve as a great degree for me as I currently work in the public sector. It is important to understand how government works and affects our state and university system,” she noted.
When asked what advice she would give to other students, Sam shared, “In the fall of 2015, I lost my parent. Instead of dropping out, I motivated myself to finish my undergraduate degree earlier than originally planned. I changed my major and found something I really enjoyed.”