Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula

07/17/2026

We would like to thank the Homer Foundation for its generosity in supporting Project GRAD family engagement events. Their funding ensured that every event could include a shared meal, helping create a warm and welcoming space where students, families, and community members could come together.

This year's family engagement programming included hands-on STEAM activities, Lights On Afterschool celebrations, and cultural enrichment opportunities. Families in Nanwalek and Port Graham welcomed a visiting cultural partner, Johon EchoHawk Atkinson, from Metlakatla, Alaska, who returns each year to share traditional dance, culture, and community building with students and families. We also hosted family engagement events with Anchor Point, Razdolna, Voznesenka, and Kachemak Selo.

Thank you, The Homer Foundation, for investing in opportunities that strengthen connections among students, families, and communities!

07/16/2026

Our Q4 newsletter is here! If you'd like to see what we've been up to over the past few months, we'd love for you to take a look.

Project GRAD Q4 Newsletter

05/15/2026

🎓 Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula Scholarship Opportunity 🎓

Students connected to Project GRAD programming may now apply for postsecondary support assistance of up to $750 per semester, or up to $1,500 per academic year!

This support may be used toward postsecondary education, vocational programs, or training opportunities that align with a student’s goals and interests.

We know postsecondary and training pathways can feel both exciting and overwhelming, and we want students and families to know that Project GRAD is here to help support those next steps.

If a student needs help with the application or has questions about the process, please reach out to us!

Application attached below.

04/28/2026

Project GRAD Kenai offers our expertise and services for afterschool programming, providing enriching activities for elementary and middle school students in six small KPBSD schools. We create positive relationships among all partners, and particularly between caring adults and youth, for nothing po...

04/23/2026

We’re hiring!

Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula is seeking a Project Coordinator to join our team supporting students and communities across the Chugach Region.

If you or someone you know is passionate about youth, education, and community, we’d love to connect.

Learn more and how to apply here...

Project GRAD Kenai offers our expertise and services for afterschool programming, providing enriching activities for elementary and middle school students in six small KPBSD schools. We create positive relationships among all partners, and particularly between caring adults and youth, for nothing po...

04/23/2026

We’re excited to share some good news for our communities.

Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula has been awarded a grant from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority to support a Rural School Counselor Program.

This work will sustain mental health support in four of our partner communities.

Read more about what this means for students and families below 👇

04/23/2026

Congratulations to Afterschool Superhero Lucas Thoning!

Lucas is the Site Coordinator & Academic Coach, CHILL Time Razdolna School, Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula. He is an Afterschool Superhero because of his unique ability to spark curiosity and joy in the students he works with. Lucas has inspired learning by consistently bringing creativity and excitement into STEAM education. He designs and delivers lessons that are educational and engaging, and helps students see science as something fun, relevant, and within their reach. His passion motivates both the youth he serves and his fellow team members, creating a positive and energized learning environment.

Thank you Lucas for being an Afterschool Superhero! Learn more about Lucas and the other Afterschool Superheroes: https://www.akafterschool.org/blog/2026-superheroes

04/22/2026

Congratulations to our PYDAP Afterschool Site Coordinator and Afterschool Coach, Lucas Thoning, on being named an Afterschool Superhero this year! This is a wonderful recognition of his dedication and impact with students. We are so grateful to have him on the Project GRAD team.

You can read more about Lucas and this award at the link below. Thank you to KBBI for picking up this story, and to the Alaska Afterschool Network for creating this award and uplifting afterschool professionals across the state.

The Alaska Afterschool Network honors Homer’s Lucas Thoning with a statewide superhero award with his work with Project GRAD at the Razdolna School on the Kenai Peninsula. KBBI’s Emilie Springer spoke with the network director Thomas Azzarella about what the award entails.

04/06/2026

Our latest Project GRAD newsletter is published. Take a look for highlights from our programs, student experiences, and what’s been happening across our communities.

Project GRAD Q3 Newsletter