Steller Secondary School

It has taken a while to write this but we had to wait for Tonei to slow down enough to make sure we had it right. Tonei G. recently graduated from Steller. Over six years as a student at Steller, Tonei fully embraced the Steller Philosopy and participated in a wide variety of activities. Besides being a strong student voice in Op Group, Ad Board (as co-chair for two years), and as Steller’s representative on the Anchorage School District’s Student Advisory Board, Tonei was editor of the yearbook for four years and leader of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Steller. Tonei was also very active outside of school volunteering for many organizations: a lawyer, judge, and board of directors member for Anchorage Youth Court, president of the United Youth Courts of Alaska, a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters at North Star Elementary School, and one of twelve Student Coordinators on the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) National Jump-Start Leadership Team. Additionally, Tonei was invited to join the GLSEN National Advisory Council earlier this year.

Tonei has been a member of the Alaska Teen Media Institute (ATMI) for over two years. A regular soundboard operator and host on their monthly radio show, Tonei was also featured as a commentator on National Public Radio in February 2008 and received an Alaska Press Club Award - competing against adult professionals - for a radio piece regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in Anchorage schools. Tonei has had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States to participate in conferences including several GLSEN summits and trainings, statewide and regional youth court summits, the National Association of Student Councils conference, the Third Coast International Audio Festival, and was one of only two seniors in Alaska chosen to participate in the 2008 U.S. Senate Youth Program.

Tonei is an American Civil Liberties Union Youth Activist Scholar, and will be an honors student at American University in Washington D.C. studying Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies. He received an American University Presidental Merit Scholarship of $27,000 per year in addition to scholarships from the Anchorage Education Association, the TOTEM Association of Educational Support Personnel, Pride Foundation, PFLAG, and many other organizations - in all, over $50,000 in scholarships. We are very proud of Tonei’s accomplishments and grateful to the Steller teachers and staff for all they have done to help create such a wonderful young person.

Ed and Karen
Tonei’s Parents

You can find details of Tonei’s accomplishments in the “press” section of frozenactivist.net.

Sam H-K is a stellar example of what Steller does best: allowing kids to find their own best interests and then facilitating the kids’ achievement. As his proud dad, I can report that Sam was President of Anchorage Youth Court this year and accumulated more than 1000 volunteer hours with AYC. In his college application process, he was offered a total of about $400,000.00 in scholarships and support, including the highest merit scholarships at several schools (including Whittier College, Millsaps University, Centre College, and DePauw University) and was asked to join the Honors Programs at all the schools who had them. Looking for a small liberal arts college education, he ultimately chose DePauw University (#31 in the 2008 USNews & WR listing), who offered $33,500.00/year of a $40,000.00 sticker price. No doubt, Sam has worked very hard, but I commend the Steller faculty and staff in their work to help a shy “sevy” become a confident, competent, well-balanced young man.

Daniel K.

As Karin Parker stated at graduation, we have some amazing students that have accomplished some amazing things. If your student has received athletic or academic awards, scholarships, recognition, or other honor, we would like to know. Please click the link under “Contact Us” in the right hand column and tell us about your amazing Steller student (especially the graduating seniors before they are gone). This will allow the Steller community share in their success and let parents of prospective students know just how wonderful our kids are. It is a website policy that for internet privacy we will publish the information you provide using only the first name and first initial of the last name of your student. Please share their accomplishments.

New location for the Graduation Ceremony is the Discovery Theater in the PAC, downtown. Have a parking plan and a pocketful of quarters! Meter parking is not free until after 6pm.
Best wishes for our 40 Graduates and our 2 departing Exchange students!

CONGRATULATIONS to Steller’s Battle of the Books team. Lorryn W. and Arthur B. represented Steller at the District-wide Junior High Battle of the Books at Romig Middle School.  They tied for 4th out of 16, and they battled against teams of 3 people.  Great reading!  You, too, can be part of a competitive reading team.  The titles for the 08-09 Battle of the Books will be out soon.  Watch for the posting in the library.

What is the Green Star Award? 

A coveted environmental status that is earned through various energy efficiency measures.  It goes beyond recycling paper, cans and plastic.   James C, a student, is trying to organize a group of students, staff and parents to work on energy efficiency at Steller. He’s hoping to earn a Green Star for Steller. Follow the link below to read how Steller can save energy and money. Contact the office and leave a message for James. For more information on some suggested actions, click below.

Steller Energy

Steller Student Volunteers Shine Through the Day and Night!

Part of the Steller Secondary School philosophy states that “the balance between freedom and responsibility will result in active community members,” and active Steller students have been, helping numerous community service organizations with energy and enthusiasm. (more…)

Steller and School Business Partner Title Wave Celebrate Banned Books Week 2007

The first Wednesday afternoon in October was brilliantly sunny and mild, but that didn’t stop 17 Steller students from staying inside to read books!
Admittedly, they were in good company as Steller graduate Mayor Mark Begich, Superintendent Carol Comeau, Rebecca Sheir, host of the Alaska Public Radio Network’s award-winning show “AK,” joined them at Title Wave Books to celebrate the 26th annual celebration of Banned Books Week 2007.

The American Library Association’s annual Banned Books Week aims to remind our country of its freedom to read by focusing special attention on those books, many of which are contemporary classics that have been banned or threatened throughout history.
During Steller’s Banned Book Read Out at Title Wave, all those that participated read passages from their favorite banned and challenged books in front of a packed house and the watchful eyes of a Channel 11 camera crew. Each celebrity in turn introduced themselves and the reasons they had chosen their particular banned book:

Clay K., Mira M., and Karlie W. – To Kill A Mockingbird;
James G. – Slaughterhouse Five;
Rebecca Sheir(Alaska Public Radio Network) – And Tango Makes Three;
Carol Comeau, Anna M., Tonya P., and Shannon Herda – Harry Potter;
Dieter B. – Naked Lunch;
Cooper G. – Fahrenheit 451;
Madelyn T. – The Color Purple;
Tonei G. – Perks of Being a Wallflower;
Mayor Mark Begich – The Chocolate War;
Jesse N. – 1984;
Hayley H. – The Catcher in the Rye;
Wade B. – Fallen Angels;
Alexandra G. and Malcolm K. – Lord of the Flies;
Jordyn S. – A Light in the Attic;
and Eliza M. – censorship quotes.

Give a HUGE thank you to Danielle and Shannon for recruiting and working with students on this project. Danielle was thrilled with the Steller participation and was later overheard saying, “I was so proud of all of them!” Carol Comeau remarked, “I was SO impressed by the poise of the students, and the selections they read.”

A HUGE thanks goes out to Title Wave Books, our incredible school business partner, for graciously hosting this event. Finally, one more HUGE thanks goes to everyone who participated and attended, including students, parents and staff. Steller demonstrated to our community once again that its uniquely indomitable and intrepid school spirit is alive and thriving. As Alfred Whitney Griswold stated in his Essays on Education,

“Books won’t stay banned. In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. The only sure weapon against bad ideas is better ideas. The source of better ideas is wisdom. And the surest path to wisdom is a liberal education.”

Linda Samorajski
School Counselor and
School Business Partnership Coordinator