School Business Partnerships

Student Award

Dorothy Carter, Central Middle School

Dorothy Carter is an exemplary student taking leadership roles. She is a National Junior Honor Society member, school athlete, community volunteer with the American Lung Association and her church, chosen to be a member of the People to People Sports Ambassador Program. She is what every educator wishes for. Dorothy is a great example of what the School Business Partnership Class strives to teach – academic excellence, professionalism, community involvement and service to others. Dorothy has the attributes of potential great personal success.

Educator Award

Emily Blahous, Mirror Lake Middle School

Emily Blahous has been the inspiration for the MLMS Video and Radio News Teams since the opening of the school in 1997. She has made numerous, significant contributions to the field of education, community partnerships, and development of positive assets in our young students. Her ability to take an idea, nurture it to a reality, all the while tapping the creative energies of adolescents is noteworthy. Ms. Blahous is a catalyst for bringing scholars of all age levels and citizens from all walks of life together to form a community. She empowers her students with skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

School Business Partnership Star

FedEx & Anchorage School District, School Business
Partnership

Twelve years ago School Business Partnerships approached FedEx asking them to participate as a partner with the district. They were very receptive and immediately developed a number of positive working relationships with schools and the district. As the years went on, it became apparent that FedEx would be able to also provide financial assistance - which they have done on an annual basis. They have also been active on the SBP Board of Directors, serving in a number of roles from Director to Chair of the program. In 2001, FedEx assisted with bringing an International Conference to Anchorage focused on School Business Partnerships. We thank FedEx for their consistent, positive support and look forward to working with them in the future.

Large Business - 3+ years

Subway of Alaska & Abbott Loop Elementary

In 2001, Chris Wilson, VP of Subway of Alaska approached Abbott Loop to form a Partnership. Subway had a Partnership that was district wide for many years, but wanted to change it’s focus to one school. We combined our efforts to promote the Forty Developmental Assets Model and began the Partnership. The impact on Abbott Loop has been phenomenal. The school climate is at an all time positive high. Discipline referrals were cut in half for each of the past two years. Subway provides supportive incentives for academic and citizenship achievement. Students, staff, parents and other community members are recognizing Subway’s positive contributions.

Large Business - Less then 3 years (tie)

Costco on Dimond & Taku Elementary & Willow Crest Elementary

Taku and Willow Crest have benefited immensely by their relationship with Costco. Costco started the year by providing every student with a back pack full of school supplies. It was a wonderful opportunity for Costco employees to meet the students and staff. It was also a very exciting time for the students to receive this gift. Students have been enriched by the many contributions of Costco to our schools. The students, staff and parents see that business people value education and are more than willing to be positively involved. They see these business people willing to support our schools in their educational efforts through a number of programs like our Student Recognition program recognizing students for academic achievement, good behavior and citizenship.

Big Brothers / Big Sisters & Dimond High School

Big Brothers / Big Sisters and the School-Based Mentoring program launched a new and exciting High School Bigs program at Dimond High School. This program matches high school volunteers with elementary aged students in one to one mentoring relationships. The goal is two fold – to expand the volunteer pool to provide more children, ages 6-12, with mentors and to offer a meaningful and rewarding volunteer opportunity for high school students. High School Bigs volunteer one hour a week with a child in the elementary school setting. Each volunteer mentor serves as a guide, advisor, listener, friend, and supporter. Through these relationships, we support Developmental Asset growth in both the high school and elementary aged youth. The Developmental Assets are utilized by BBBS in order to help the youth to become more caring, confident and competent adults.

Small Business - 3+ years

Small Engines Specialties, Inc. & King Career Center

Four years ago a tragic fire occurred at a small engines repair shop in Anchorage. Jack Yandell, Small Engines Repair instructor at KCC, had been purchasing equipment and supplies from this business for several years and volunteered his class to assist in the recovery efforts after the fire. The class secured a Connex container from SeaLand to move the salvageable inventory into for storage and helped clean up the debris from the fire. Buoyed by the generous help the students provided, owner Houston Spires secured a new location to reopen his business and again the KCC students rose to the occasion to provide assistance. That was the start of a great partnership between the King Career Center Small Engines Repair class and Small Engines Specialties. Our Partnership is a sterling example of mutual cooperation and positive working relationships.

Small Business - Less then 3 years

First Alaskans & William Tyson Elementary

The First Alaskans Institute’s mission is to help develop the capacities of Alaska Native people and their communities to meet the social, economic and educational challenges of the future.As a kickoff for literacy involvement in Anchorage, the First Alaskans initially came to us in the spring of 2004. They had over 70 volunteers reading aloud to groups of children in our school. Sarah Scanlan and her First Alaskans tea, were inspired to help Alaskan children become readers early in their school years, and we began a “Breakfast Club” at Tyson. Ten adults from the institute alternate days and read to and listen to our students read 8:30 – 9:00 each morning. The dedication of these adults has been exemplary. They do not miss a day. One outstanding characteristic of this Partnership is the commitment to helping children who are struggling with reading skills. The impact on the students can be seen in their happy faces and their increased interest in reading for pleasure.

Congratulations to all the STAR AWARD nominees

Student

• Dorothy Carter, 8th grade student representing Central Middle School
• Sherian Slater, 8th grade student representing Mirror Lake Middle School

Educator

• Emily Blahous – Mirror Lake Middle School
• Valerie Ekberg-Brown – Chugiak High School

School Business Partnership Star

• FedEx & Anchorage School District/School Business Partnership

Large Business — Partnership for 3+ years

• Subway of Alaska & Abbott Loop Elementary School
• Northrim Bank & Fairview Elementary School
• Wells Fargo & Gruening Middle School
• Kaladi Brothers & Polaris
• Costco on Dimond & Willow Crest
• Wells Fargo & East High
• Safeway – Eagle River & Chugiak High

Large Business — Partnership for less than 3 years

• Costco on Dimond & Taku Elementary School
• Big Brothers / Big Sisters & Dimond High
• Denali Credit Union & Wendler Middle School
• Nine Star & Dimond High
• Prudential Vista Realty & South High
• Alaska Jiffy Lube & East High
• UAATech Prep & King Career Center
• Alaska Airlines & West High
• Hotel Captain Cook & South High

Small Business (25 or fewer employees) — Partnership for 3+ years

• Small Engine Repair & King Career Center
• Alaska Information & Research & Hanshew Middle School
• Cabin Fever & Hanshew Middle School
• Pinnacle Mountain Ski & Snowboard & Hanshew Middle School
• Out North & McLaughlin

Small Business — Partnership for less than 3 years

• First Alaskans & Tyson Elementary School