T3 Alaska Summer Program Students Explore Alaska’s Energy Future
T3 Alaska Summer Program Students Explore Alaska’s Energy Future
T3 Alaska led an inspiring Energy Leadership & Digital Storytelling Summer Program that brought together high school students from across the state. Gathering in Anchorage, students explored one of Alaska’s most pressing challenges—its energy future—while ensuring that youth voice was part of the statewide conversation. Kusilvak Career Academy served as their home base, with daily sessions held across the University of Alaska Anchorage campus, and culminated at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference.
During the first few days of the program, students focused on building a deep understanding of their communities’ unique energy landscapes. Working in teams, they identified key challenges, mapped out local energy systems, and began crafting energy profiles and digital stories that reflect both their current village reality and their vision for a more sustainable future.
Part of the time was spent with Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) CyberPod college mentors. Hailey Hodgkins and Adrian Burke introduced them to Raspberry Pi programming. Students built up their kits, worked with sensors and learned some basic programming —a fun and interactive start to the world of data sensors and computing! In the afternoon, Peetie Deveer dove into more advanced Raspberry Pi applications. Students explored integrating new technologies and were introduced to data collection using Meshtastic. The day provided a deeper understanding of how digital tools can support real-world solutions.
On June 2, students shared their early findings at a workshop with Institute of Social and Economic Research researchers, policy professionals, and energy leaders. Centered around the question, “What would it look like if students and their communities were at the heart of shaping a bold, innovative energy future?” the session invited students to speak and learn about local priorities, opportunities, and obstacles. From rural fuel delivery logistics to renewable energy aspirations, their contributions were grounded in lived experience and fueled by a strong sense of responsibility to their communities.
Following the workshop, students spent three days attending the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference—an annual gathering that brings together innovators, decision-makers, and stakeholders from across the state and beyond. They engaged in panel sessions, asked thoughtful questions, and connected directly with professionals in the field. This experience not only broadened their understanding of energy issues, but also helped them see the importance of youth leadership in solving complex, real-world problems.
Throughout the week, the students demonstrated curiosity, collaboration, and courage. Their voices added depth to statewide discussions and reminded everyone in the room that the next generation is not just watching the energy transition—they are actively shaping it.
As the program continued, students refined their community energy stories using digital storytelling tools and shared their work with wider audiences. A handful is returned on June 16-17 for a continuation of the program at an energy workshop. Stay tuned to see how these young leaders continue to elevate local knowledge and inspire action across Alaska.
About T3 Alaska
The T3 Alaska program is a program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and situated within the College of Engineering and Mines. T3 Alaska, or “Teaching Through Technology” fosters student achievements by approaching education through hands-on technology skills within a safe learning environment. T3 Alaska extends into the community with collaborative partnerships that give students opportunities to apply these skills to real-world problems. These connections strengthen communities with new and creative student solutions for future and existing problems while providing students with practical applications to apply their learned technology skills.
