SWAG
AYEA teen leaders, graduates, and adult mentors form our Statewide Advisory Group (SWAG), which provides strategic direction and oversight for our program. SWAG members participate in bi-monthly 1 hour teleconferences to address statewide AYEA decisions, and one face-to-face retreat for strategic planning. SWAG is always a fun group of dynamic, committed youth leaders, graduates and mentors. See below for current members.
Read more about SWAG Roles & Responsibilities
Apply to Join SWAG! SWAG is now accepting applications. Contact Megan McBride mcbridem(at)ayea(.)org or 907-339-3907 for more information. Note, you must be a current/past AYEA member or Adult Mentor to serve on SWAG.
Current SWAG Members Google Docs Login
SWAG Meeting Calendar Login
AYEA Statewide Advisory Group
Oceana Wills, Homer (Youth Chair)
‘Oshi’ is a senior at Homer High School and became involved with AYEA through the invitation of older peers. She has attended the AYEA Civics & Conservation Summit, assisted with the 2008 Summer Fund Raiser, and will be involved with our upcoming Art in Action training in September 2008. Oshi spends part of her summers fishing and helping her parents out with their bed and breakfast/café.
Claire Fordyce, Juneau (Adult Chair)
Claire first volunteered with AYEA during the Summer Get Together in 1999. She was soon hooked on volunteering for AYEA in a myriad of capacities. She co-coordinates the annual Civics & Conservation Summit and provides local support to the JAYEA chapter. Growing up in Australia, Claire is a graduate of Melbourne University, with a Bachelor of Education in Science. She taught high school Biology, Physical Science and Natural Resource Management, prior to travel in Indonesia, Japan and Thailand, eventually putting down roots in Alaska. Passionate about the rights of youth to learn, form opinions, be heard by civic leaders, and lead and shape decisions, Claire supports youth seats on Boards and Commissions. Claire is inspired by the AYEA team and their achievements.
Elena Dolitsky, Juneau (Youth Fundraising Coordinator)
Elena is an active member of the JAYEA chapter in Juneau and has been involved with their silverware drive. Elena participated in the 2008 Civics & Conservation Summit, 2009 Statewide Leadership Retreat, and has been a strong leader in the 2009 Renewable Energy statewide campaign.
Amanda Huff, Fairbanks (Adult /Graduate Secretary)
Amanda Huff graduated from Bartlett High School in Anchorage in 2003. She was an AYEA newsletter editor and a peer leader for the Civics & Conservation Summit during high school. She attended the University of Alaska Southeast and the University of Alaska Fairbanks studying Business. She currently works at the Fairbanks Public Library in the processing department. During her spare time she enjoys being outside and ballroom/Latin dancing with friends and family. She is excited to be involved with such an energetic and world-changing group like AYEA!
Tiaya Waggoner, Palmer (Youth Secretary)
Tiaya first attended AYEA’s Art in Action Training in 2008, since then she joined the PAYEA chapter at her highschool and has been very involved in both PAYEA’s Sustainable Schools campaign and AYEA’s Statewide Renewable Energy Campaign.
Jeff Sheakley, Kasaan (Adult Mentor/Graduate)
Jeff attended AYEA’s Civics and Conservation Summit while a sophomore in high school and then served as a Peer Leader during AYEA’s first Southeast Youth Summit in 2003. He reconnected with AYEA as an employee of Sitka Tribe of Alaska, looking for additional, meaningful ways to engage youth that he was mentoring at the age of 21. Jeff joined SWAG in 2007 as a way to stay involved at the statewide level and get more youth engaged. Originally from Craig on Prince of Whales Island, Jeff has recently returned to neighboring village Kasaan to work for the tribe where he conducts a number of educational and cultural activities (ranging from digital storytelling to cedar basket weaving) with local youth.
Joe Okitkun, Kotlik (Graduate)
Joe first became involved with AYEA as a student at Mt. Edgecumbe High school as part of the MEAYEA chapter. In high school he was an active leader in the Letter to Our Leaders Global Warming campaign and the 3-2-1 Energy Efficiency campaign. Since high school, Joe has volunteered as an adult mentor at AYEA’s 2008 Art in Action Training and AYEA’s 2009 Summer Training. Joe is currently a second year student at University of Alaska, Anchorage.
Lynn Fuller, Palmer (Adult Mentor)
Lynn is an AYEA convert from having PAYEA youth in the house the past few years. She joined SWAG in 2010. Lynn is interested in seeing AYEA members succeed in improving the environmental climate in Alaska, and wants to help AYEA last forever as an organization. Lynn has worked as a high school and community college Biology teacher, as a water quality coordinator and watershed planner, and she currently works for the Pacific Coast Joint Venture to protect habitat for birds and other wildlife.
