The Resiliency in Residence Life Project focused on providing a supportive, encouraging and caring environment to students of the three residential boarding high schools of Alaska: Galena Interior Learning Academy (GILA), Nenana Student Living Center (NSLC) and Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS). A primary resource the RRL Project tapped to reach its goals of improved academics, strong communities and increased assets for its students are the talented, dedicated and dynamic housing professionals that make up the Resiliency in Residence Life Team. These RRL staff members lived with, taught/guided and learned from their students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which was both challenging and extremely rewarding.

In addition to their encouraging stories below, these Alaska based Residence Life professionals have put together a book rich with practical tips and activities to educate, inspire, stimulate and empower teens.
Living and Learning: Residence Hall Environments That Help Students Succeed will help you better connect with students in your schools or living communities.

Stories 2006-2007, 2005-2006, 2004-2005

School Year 2006-2007

Spring Carnival by Alan M. Lonewolf, GILA student

"Just" Hanging Out by Tasha Cavasoz, MEHS Academic Liaison

Easter Gifts by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Going to School by Ayla Lechton, GILA student

The Nenana Student Living Center

Life @ GILA by Melinda Hruby, GILA student

Staff hiring at GILA by Jeff Myers, GILA Dean of Students

Working in the Kitchen at GILA by Boone Ridenour, GILA 12th grader.

Jammin' Students by Sue Knudsen, GILA Programming Coordinator

Environmental Reminders by Sue Knudsen, GILA Programming Coordinator

A Lesson Learned by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Program Coordinator

Taking Action at MEHS by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Gila Students Plan for the Future by Vera Rose Mountain, GILA Auxiliary Services Manager

8 Pizzas, 15 Students: You Do the Math by Ben Lockwood, NSLC Hall Manager

To Have a Winner, All Others Must be Cast Out by Ben Lockwood, NSLC Hall Manager

The Valentine's Tounament in Galena by Edgar Madros

Taking the SAT by Kristyn Silas, GILA student.

Who's Up for Some Football? by Jeff Myers, GILA Dean of Students

Wonderful Winter Vacation by Vera Rose Mountain, GILA Auxiliary Services Manager

Conquering Mt. Verstovia by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

My Christmas Break in Rural Alaska by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Program Coordinator

The Happy Dinner by Whitney Pong, Nenana Student Living Center Recreation Aide

Senses Indulged by Karrie Pavish Anderson, GILA Resident Advisor

Christmas Dinner by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Mission Accomplished by Karrie Pavish Anderson, GILA Resident Advisor

GILA Students Show Love for their Community by Sue Knudsen, GILA Programming Coordinator

Thanksgiving in Galena by Cassondra M. Slats, GILA student

Salmon Lake Getaway by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Program Coordinator

Snowball fights, or as I like to put it: Death From Above by Jeff Myers, GILA Dean of Students

I wanna dance, dance, dance, my dancies out... by Tasha Cavasoz, MEHS Academic Liaison

A Pumpkinful Weekend by Whitney Pong, Nenana Student Living Center Recreation Aide

The Yukon Jamboree by Henry Sheldon, GILA student

It Takes a Community to Raise...a Totem Pole? by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Program Coordinator

Alaska Day in Sitka by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Open Gym at GILA by Vera Rose Mountain, GILA Auxiliary Services Manager

An Evening with Pamyua by Whitney Pong, Nenana Student Living Center Recreation Aide

Girls Gone Wilderness by Whitney Pong, Nenana Student Living Center Recreation Aide

Growth in PILARS Program by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Just the Dudes by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Program Coordinator

Dive-In Movie Welcomes Students to G.I.L.A. by Sue Knudsen, GILA Programming Coordinator

School Year 2005-2006

Easter Giving by Heidi Holbert, MEHS Restorative Justice Coordinator

Things Don't Always Go As Planned... by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Specialist

Sharing Our Fears, Making Us Stronger by Dave Pavish, a staff member of the Res Life Team

It Starts with Singing by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Students Cheer on Mushers at Galena Checkpoint by Katie Derby, GILA Hall Manager

Yup'ik Dance Group Travels to AWG 2006 by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Specialist

Etiquette Dinner at the NSLC by Jenni Betschart, student at the Nenana Student Living Center

Dedication by Tasha Cavasoz, MEHS Academic Liaison

Color My World Beautiful by Stacey Graham, GILA Residential Counselor

Basket-bowling by Stacey Graham, GILA Residential Counselor

GILA Student Shows the Spirit of Youth by Tiffany Woods, student at Galena Interior Learning Center

Sitka in the Snow and Sun by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Preserving Heritage and Culture by Christine Kagak, a student at MEHS

Braves Vs. Wolves by Heidi Holbert, MEHS Restorative Justice Coordinator

Knitting is for... by Tasha Cavasoz, MEHS Academic Liaison

School Spirit at MEHS by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Escaping Busy to Just Be by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Specialist

Fun Activities for Students at the Dorm by Katie Derby, GILA Hall Manager

Sports at GILA by Kelly Kehlenback, GILA student

Chef Rand's Parties by Katie Derby, GILA Hall Manager

Postcards To Any Soldier by Heidi Holbert, MEHS Restorative Justice Coordinator

Youth Court by Abel Hopson-Suvlu, MEHS student and member of the Sitka Youth Court

Bringing the Courts Together Peer By Peer by Heidi Holbert, MEHS Restorative Justice Coordinator

Mt. Edgecumbe Students L.E.A.D. and Learn a Valuable Lesson by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Specialist

Halloween Fun at GILA by Sam Merdian, GILA junior

Snowball Fights Postponed by Jeff Bauer, GILA Resident Advisor

Winter Weather Update by Stacee Demientieff, GILA sophomore

Chips Ahoy! by Ben Lockwood, NSLC Hall Manager

Connecting...with Food by Heidi Holbert, MEHS Restorative Justice Coordinator

Pistols and Pasta by Ben Lockwood, NSLC Hall Manager

Red Ribbon T-Shirt Competition by Stacey Graham, GILA Residential Counselor

GILA Residents Soak Up the Service by Karrie Pavish Anderson, GILA Resident Advisor

Halloween at MEHS by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

The NSLC's In Jeopardy by Ben Lockwood, NSLC Hall Manager

Hiking Mt. Edgecumbe by Karen Johnson, a Junior at MEHS

The Gold, the Blue, and the Fuzzy by Whitney Pong, NSLC Recreation Aide

Remodeled Wilderness by Diane Larson, GILA Wilderness Hall Director

GILA Students Serve the Community by Katie Derby, GILA Hall Manager

Revenge of the Snail Mail by Tasha Cavasoz, MEHS Academic Liaison

World of Opportunity by Heidi Holbert, MEHS Restorative Justice Coordinator

The Roommate Game by Ben Lockwood, NSLC Hall Manager

PILARS Training at MEHS by Aaron Routon, MEHS Resiliency Director

Rainy... with a Sunny Disposition by Patrick Clark, MEHS Outdoor Specialist

Helping Others, Near or Far by Katie Derby, GILA Hall Manager

Building Assets Through Peer Helper Retreat by Stacey Graham, GILA Residential Counselor

The Few, The Proud by Tasha Cavasoz, MEHS Academic Liaison

School Year 2004-2005

Kayaking Around Alaska by 11th grader, Rebecca Ferry.

Region V Tournament in Juneau by Terese Ann Teganlakla.

Yu'pik Dance Group Visits St. Mary's by Rene Johnson.

Alaska Youth for Environmental Action by 10th grader, Madison Christiansen.

Founders Dance by Charlee Lockwood.

Edgecatainment Night by Kimberly Twitchell.

New Experiences at the Sitka Farm by Heather Vukelic, a member of the residence life team at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Father Oleksa's Inspiring Words by Renee Johnson.

PILARS Late Nights by Aaron Routon the Restorative Justice Coordinator at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Cast Out at Galena's PERS by Benjamin Lockwood, Hall Manager for Programs at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS).

Founder's Week at Mt. Edgecumbe by Heather Vukelic, a member of the residence life team at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Earl Polk Inspires Students at Mt. Edgecumbe by 9th Grader, Gracelyn Johnson.

Sitka is Right on Track by Aaron Routon the Restorative Justice Coordinator at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Ride-Alongs with Sitka's Finest by Aaron Routon the Restorative Justice Coordinator at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Creative Journaling with Creative Students by Stacey Graham, the Residential Counselor at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS).

Drama Ladies Bring the Theatre to Galena Schools by Kristen Paton, Hall Manager for Facilities and Special Projects at Wilderness Hall at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS).

Keeping Home Where the Heart Is by Heather Vukelic, a member of the residence life team at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Putt-Putt at Galena's PERS by Stacey Graham, a staff member at Galena's Project Education Residential School.

Building Resolutions by Stacey Graham, a staff member at Galena's Project Education Residential School.

Mt Edgecumbe Students Show Their "Spirit" by Aaron Routon the Restorative Justice Coordinator at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Thankful for Our Community by Kristen Paton, two staff members at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS).

Creativity Finds a Home by Kristen Paton and Stacey Graham, two staff members at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS).

Sitka Artisans Market Welcomes MEHS Students by Becca Swinney, the Outdoor Specialist at Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Bowling in the Streets by Kristen Paton, Hall Manager for Facilities and Special Projects at Wilderness Hall at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS).

On Top of a Volcano by Becca Swinney, the Outdoor Specialist at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Life With Livie - One of our Amazing Students at PERS by Karrie Pavish Anderson and Dave Pavish, two staff members at Galena's Project Education Residential School.

Inspiration in the Hallways by Heather Vukelic, a member of the residence life team at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Capture the Flag by Bradley S. Bauer and Vera Rose, two staff members at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS).

Friends with Friends by Diane Peterson and Stacey Graham, two of the residence staff at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS).

One Impressed Coach in Galena by Jeffrey Barry, a resident advisor and volleyball coach at Galena's Project Education Residential School.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words by Aaron Routon the Restorative Justice Coordinator at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Building Skills at the NSLC by Pia Jensen, the Recreation Aide at the Nenana Student Living Center (NSLC).

Peer Tutoring at MEHS by Carrie Neve, Educational Liaison at Mt Edgecumbe High School.

Sore Cheeks in the Wilderness by Becca Swinney, the Outdoor Specialist at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

PILARS of Mt Edgecumbe High School by Aaron Routon, the Restorative Justice Coordinator at Mt Edgecumbe High School.

Keeping Home Close to the Heart by Heather Vukelic, a member of the residence life team at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Getting to Know the Neighbors by Tiffany Agayar, a student at Mount Edgecumbe High School (MEHS) and Carrie Neve, the Educational Liaison at MEHS

There's No SUB-stitute for a Good Place to Get Together by Benjamyn Lockwood, Hall Manager for Programs at Galena's Project Education Residential School (PERS)

Feeling Crafty in Galena by Kristen Paton, Hall Manager for Facilities and Special Projects at Wilderness Hall at Galena's Project Education Residential School.

There's no Bonding Quite Like Tent Bonding by Becca Swinney, the Outdoor Specialist at Mt Edgecumbe High School in Sitka.

Staff vs. Students! (in Softball) by Kirsten Paton, Hall Manager for Facilities and Special Projects at Wilderness Hall at Galena's Project Education Residential School.

Gold Panning, Rafting and the Miracle of Play Dough by Pia Jensen, a Recreation Aide at the Nenana Student Living Center

Residence Life staff from around Alaska gathered together in Juneau for a 2006 staff training. Click here to view photos from that training, and last years training, taken by Timi Tullis, the former Director of the Resiliency in Residence Life Grant and AASB's Director of Membership Services.

One of the staff members who attended the 2004 training took photos, and was nice enough to create an original website for the photos. Click here to view those photos!

For more information about the Resiliency in Residence Life project, email Timi Tullis at ttullis@aasb.org