A First-Timer's View of the WASFAA Conference
by Cub Reporter Jennifer Zimmers,
College of Southern Idaho

The WASFAA 2000 Conference, The Last Frontier, was held at the Anchorage Hilton and Convention Center April 16th to the 18th in beautiful downtown Anchorage, Alaska. With an estimated 476 attendees, the conference was full of diversity and fun. The WASFAA Conference had a packed schedule of meetings and, of course, lots of fun activities.

Keynote speaker, Joann DeMott, started off the conference on Sunday. She talked about customer service and the importance of how you handle it. Also during lunch, we were privileged to have Tlingit dancers deliver an astonishing performance. The Tlingits are members of a group of Native American people of the islands and coast of southern Alaska. They were very inspirational to watch. I think that many people felt that way.

During our lunch on Monday, we had another wonderful guest speaker -DeeDee Jonrowe, an Iditarod Trail Tracer, and her 15 year-old retired Alaska sled dog, Trumpet. DeeDee presented slides of her racing days and highlights of her life. She mentioned that she speaks to young children around the state and I can see how she would be an excellent role model for the young children by letting them know that they too can achieve anything that they set their mind to. DeeDee has accomplished many achievements and has received many awards. She is truly an inspiring woman.

Monday night dinner was a beautiful scenic train ride to Portage Glacier. We experienced moose and Dall sheep along the way and many miles of beautiful scenery. It is one train ride I will never forget.

During the business meeting, Ted Malone was very generous about passing the gavel over to Doug Severs. He stated many times how he was so "blessed" with being able to be President of WASFAA two years in a row! As the incoming president, Doug presented Ted with a Star Wars pocket watch and Julie Yeager Arthur a bear plaque. Doug wrapped up the conference by introducing Jeff Baker, Director of Program Development Division of Student Financial Assistance Programs with the U.S. Department of Education, to present us with the Federal Update.

The Last Frontier Conference will be very memorable to me. All of the chairs and committees that put on the conference did a wonderful and outstanding job.