With Alaska statehood occurring in 1959, 2009 marks the Great Land’s fiftieth anniversary. In an effort to highlight what has been accomplished in Alaska in the last fifty years, the University of Alaska organized the Eight Stars of Gold Project.
Conference of Young Alaskans (COYA) II
The first gathering of young Alaskans was organized to recognize the future leaders of Alaska and coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the Alaska Constitutional Convention in 2006. Fifty-five delegates were selected to discuss the future of the state.
Marking the fiftieth anniversary of Alaska Statehood, the second edition of the Conference of Young Alaskans was formed in January of 2009 to encourage awareness of state history among the future leaders of Alaska.
Fifty-five delegates were selected from across the state to discuss the future of Alaska and seek an understanding of the challenges that will come in the future. Policy statements and action plans will be prepared during the conference hosted by Gridwood, Alaska.
University of Alaska Eight Stars of Gold Project Liaison Maggie Grega says of the gathering, “During the fight for statehood, a group of Alaskans fought through the shouts of those for and against the prospect by working together and crafting the best state constitution in the Union. Today, 50 years later, amid the shouts for Obama and McCain, another group of young Alaskans are reaching across the political divide to find commonalities to move us forward into a bright future.”
The Conference of Young Alaskans II is seen as an opportunity to face the problems faced by Alaska in a nonpartisan manner. Voices from both urban and rural Alaska will join forces to strengthen the future of the Great Land.
Eight Stars of Gold Project
Eight Stars of Gold is titled in recognition of the eight gold stars found on the Alaska flag that was designed by Benny Benson in 1927. These gold stars on a field of blue represent the seven stars that compose the Big Dipper or Ursa Major and Polaris the North Star.
Eight projects are underway in 2009 to celerbrate Alaska’s fiftieth anniversary. The University of Alaska selected each of the eight projects as being representative of one unique aspect of life in Alaska. The eight efforts include:
- UAA Student Constitutional Convention
- Alaska Historical Society Annual Conference
- Forum of Young Alaskans
- Conference of Young Alaskans (COYA) II
- “Bob” Bartlett Documentary
- Statehood Book Series
- Oral History Series
- Traveling Statehood Exhibit
Copyright © 2009 by Alan Sorum
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APRN Talk of Alaska show on Conference of Young Alaskans II: “More than 50 years after Alaska’s Constitutional Convention, a group of young Alaskans is pushing for a greater voice in the state’s next 50 years. This week it’s your chance to check in with the Conference of Young Alaskans, which just finished its meeting in Girdwood.” Download the program in MP3 at: http://media.aprn.org/2009/toa-20090113.mp3