PROGRAM Highlight
Calista Internship
Calista Corporation’s 10-week internship program offers Calista Shareholders and Descendants hands-on work experience through their supporting holding lines and subsidiaries.
2023 Calista Corp. Summer Intern Program
Calista Corporation’s Internship Program is a catalyst for Shareholders and Descendants to get into varying career industries that pique their interests. Our interns get into diverse industries, including Engineering, Accounting, Government Contracting, Business and Marketing, Cultural Preservation with Calista Education and Culture Inc., and much more.
The 10-week internship not only offers fair wages to participants to invest in themselves through educational and training advancement opportunities, but also to cultivate new skills and sharpen those that they already have. During the program, the interns learn what their individual role means to Calista and to our Shareholders and Descendants as a whole.
“The internship program ensures the students may become the leaders we encourage them to be for the coming generations of Calista Shareholders and Descendants.
MEET THE Yulista 2023 INTERN TEAM
Yulista welcomed Calista Corporation Shareholders and descendants to Team Yulista for the summer. This year we had 13 interns located in Alabama, Texas, Florida and Alaska. The internship opportunities for the Shareholders offer various positions in various departments to gain skills for future careers.
Yugissaq Ripke
Leisha Lozano
Elton Chanar
Valerie Wiseman
Terence Slats
Taylor Kairaiuak
Payton Chanar
Matt Enoch
Frank Grubbs
Baniika Slats
Christopher Friendly
Asa Pitka
Alan Xavier
Yugissaq Ripke
- Intern position and department:
Warehouse Intern, Yulista Solutions, Houston, TX. - Village tie:
Chefornak, Alaska - School and major:
University of Alaska Anchorage, Undeclared – General Studies Program - What is your favorite food?
Spaghetti - What do you like about your internship?
What I like most about the internship is having the opportunity to work with amazing individuals. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
I enjoy going to the gym after hours and cooking. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After the internship I will continue my education onward to grad school in a career of my choice. Once I graduate, I would like to find a line of work where I help people possibly in Law and Justice or the medical field specifically along the lines of an oral or heart surgeon. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss my family.
Leisha Lozano
- Intern position and department:
Quality Intern, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Kongiganak, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Social Work, minor in Alaska Native Studies. - What is your favorite food?
Seafood. - What do you like about your internship?
I like learning a lot in my department and I have a supportive mentor/supervisor. I’m learning different things such as life skills, soft skills, and even expanding my Microsoft Excel skills. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
On weekends, I like to go out and explore town, shopping, and eat out with other interns. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After graduation, I plan on living in Fairbanks and working with the local Native hospital or the school district. I’m also planning on furthering my education and traveling during school breaks. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss my dogs, family, subsistence, and food.
Elton Chanar
- Intern position and department:
Marketing, Yulista Holding, Huntsville AL - Village tie:
Toksook Bay, Alaska - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Rural Development - What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is dried herring with seal oil. - What do you like about your internship?
I like that there are more positions available each year with Yulista. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
I like to go to the gym and binge on movie or TV series. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
I would like to take on a job that give services to rural communities. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss the food, family, and my car.
Valerie Wiseman
- Intern position and department:
Property Compliance Intern, Yulista Integrated Solutions, Huntsville, AL - Village tie:
Chefornak, Alaska - School and major:
Alaska Vocational Technical Center, Certificate in Construction Technology - What is your favorite food?
Dried fish with seal oil, seal, anything with seal oil. - What do you like about your internship?
I get to make money for my family and I. Meet new people, do new things, experience life outside of Alaska. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Sleep! and watch movies. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
I would really like to join a construction team and build houses. - What do you miss most about home?
All the Native foods I grew up on is what I miss the most about home and my family.
Terence Slats
- Intern position and department:
Engineering Intern, Yulista Support Services, Panama City, FL. - Village tie:
Chevak, Alaska - School and major:
Brigham Young University-Idaho, Civil Engineering - What is your favorite food?
Steak. - What do you like about your internship?
The crew on the Sea Fighter. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Going to the springs with my coworkers. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
Work as a civil engineer in Alaska. - What do you miss most about home?
Doing things with my family.
Taylor Kairaiuak
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Meridianville, AL. - Village tie:
Kwigillingok and Chefornak, Alaska - School and major:
Alaska Pacific University, Nursing Program. - What is your favorite food?
Fries. - What do you like about your internship?
Remote location from the other interns and listen to music while working on my projects in the office. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Napping and snacking. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
Flight nurse. - What do you miss most about home?
Colder temperatures.
Payton Chanar
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Toksook Bay, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Business Administration. - What is your favorite food?
Anything with noodles. - What do you like about your internship?
I like assisting and contributing with each team in my department. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Outside of work I like to do the basics like watching Netflix, hangout or take a nap. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After I complete college and get some sort of degree, I’d love to work with a Native corporation in the city. - What do you miss most about home?
Traveling in and out of home, I realized that I miss the Native food! Especially dried halibut.
Matt Enoch
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Nunapitchuk, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Yup’ik, minor in Criminal Justice. - What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is lasagna and my Yup’ik favorite food is moose brain and heart soup, walrus soup with mouse food. - What do you like about your internship?
What I like about this internship is that I get to learn more about this department, and I wanted to come back to the same department because I was enjoying the work they do. I came to learn about Yulista and how it impacts Calista Corporation. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
I like to go on adventures with the interns; mostly going to other cities to explore. This summer, most of my friends came with me and I’m excited for the adventures we are planning. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After I graduate from college, I want to teach Yup’ik in the Kuskokwim River areas and help restore our language. I’m not saying that it’s dying, but most of the kids in some villages aren’t fluent in Yup’ik, whether it’s speaking it or understanding, and I want to change that. I know I won’t be the biggest impact, but at least I will be part of it. - What do you miss most about home?
What I miss about home is the weather. I know I signed up for this, but I miss the crispy, cool air of Alaska. I’m always happy to be back in Huntsville. I miss eating Yup’ik food and my mom.
Frank Grubbs
- Intern position and department:
Material Handler Intern, Tunista Logistics, JBER, Alaska. - Village tie:
Emmonak, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. - What is your favorite food?
Homemade chicken burgers. - What do you like about your internship?
The exercise. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Hangout with family. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
Be a traveling nurse. - What do you miss most about home?
I don’t live in the village, so I’m home.
Baniika Slats
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Chevak, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Business Administration with a focus on finance. - What is your favorite food?
Sushi. - What do you like about your internship?
I like that there are more positions available each year with Yulista. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
I really enjoy baking desserts. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After this internship, I would like to finish college and I am still a little unsure on what I would want to do after. - What do you miss most about home?
Spending time with my sisters.
Christopher Friendly
- Intern position and department:
Technology Intern, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Bethel and Eek, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Anchorage, Technology. - What is your favorite food?
Don’t have one. - What do you like about your internship?
I like the fact I get to work with various technologies. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Outside of work hours I like to walk/hike and play volleyball. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
In all honesty, I would want to work in the I.T. field after the internship. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss the mountains in Alaska.
Asa Pitka
- Intern position and department:
Engineering Intern, Yulista Solutions, Houston, TX. - Village tie:
Toksook Bay, Alaska - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Electrical Engineering. - What is your favorite food?
Seal soup. - What do you like about your internship?
What I like about this internship is that I am learning a lot about engineering. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
N/A - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
Currently I am exploring my options on what to do after the internship/graduation. - What do you miss most about home?
One thing I miss about home is fishing.
Alan Xavier
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Pilot Station, Alaska - School and major:
Alaska Christian College, General Studies Program. - What is your favorite food?
My favorite Native food is akutaq and burgers. - What do you like about your internship?
I like the diversity and unlike other companies, Yulista stand with their statement of “We like family”. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Outside of work hours, I spend my free time playing volleyball outside of the dorms and catch up with my tv shows on different streaming platforms. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
I haven’t given this much thought yet but that will come to me along the road. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss having family around. Although this answer is commonly used with everyone who has been asked this question, there is nothing like having people around who love you unconditionally.
Yugissaq Ripke
- Intern position and department:
Warehouse Intern, Yulista Solutions, Houston, TX. - Village tie:
Chefornak, Alaska - School and major:
University of Alaska Anchorage, Undeclared – General Studies Program - What is your favorite food?
Spaghetti - What do you like about your internship?
What I like most about the internship is having the opportunity to work with amazing individuals. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
I enjoy going to the gym after hours and cooking. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After the internship I will continue my education onward to grad school in a career of my choice. Once I graduate, I would like to find a line of work where I help people possibly in Law and Justice or the medical field specifically along the lines of an oral or heart surgeon. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss my family.
Leisha Lozano
- Intern position and department:
Quality Intern, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Kongiganak, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Social Work, minor in Alaska Native Studies. - What is your favorite food?
Seafood. - What do you like about your internship?
I like learning a lot in my department and I have a supportive mentor/supervisor. I’m learning different things such as life skills, soft skills, and even expanding my Microsoft Excel skills. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
On weekends, I like to go out and explore town, shopping, and eat out with other interns. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After graduation, I plan on living in Fairbanks and working with the local Native hospital or the school district. I’m also planning on furthering my education and traveling during school breaks. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss my dogs, family, subsistence, and food.
Elton Chanar
- Intern position and department:
Marketing, Yulista Holding, Huntsville AL - Village tie:
Toksook Bay, Alaska - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Rural Development - What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is dried herring with seal oil. - What do you like about your internship?
I like that there are more positions available each year with Yulista. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
I like to go to the gym and binge on movie or TV series. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
I would like to take on a job that give services to rural communities. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss the food, family, and my car.
Valerie Wiseman
- Intern position and department:
Property Compliance Intern, Yulista Integrated Solutions, Huntsville, AL - Village tie:
Chefornak, Alaska - School and major:
Alaska Vocational Technical Center, Certificate in Construction Technology - What is your favorite food?
Dried fish with seal oil, seal, anything with seal oil. - What do you like about your internship?
I get to make money for my family and I. Meet new people, do new things, experience life outside of Alaska. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Sleep! and watch movies. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
I would really like to join a construction team and build houses. - What do you miss most about home?
All the Native foods I grew up on is what I miss the most about home and my family.
Terence Slats
- Intern position and department:
Engineering Intern, Yulista Support Services, Panama City, FL. - Village tie:
Chevak, Alaska - School and major:
Brigham Young University-Idaho, Civil Engineering - What is your favorite food?
Steak. - What do you like about your internship?
The crew on the Sea Fighter. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Going to the springs with my coworkers. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
Work as a civil engineer in Alaska. - What do you miss most about home?
Doing things with my family.
Taylor Kairaiuak
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Meridianville, AL. - Village tie:
Kwigillingok and Chefornak, Alaska - School and major:
Alaska Pacific University, Nursing Program. - What is your favorite food?
Fries. - What do you like about your internship?
Remote location from the other interns and listen to music while working on my projects in the office. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Napping and snacking. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
Flight nurse. - What do you miss most about home?
Colder temperatures.
- Environmental instrumentation
- Range requirements
Payton Chanar
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Toksook Bay, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Business Administration. - What is your favorite food?
Anything with noodles. - What do you like about your internship?
I like assisting and contributing with each team in my department. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Outside of work I like to do the basics like watching Netflix, hangout or take a nap. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After I complete college and get some sort of degree, I’d love to work with a Native corporation in the city. - What do you miss most about home?
Traveling in and out of home, I realized that I miss the Native food! Especially dried halibut.
Matt Enoch
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Toksook Bay, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Business Administration. - What is your favorite food?
Anything with noodles. - What do you like about your internship?
I like assisting and contributing with each team in my department. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Outside of work I like to do the basics like watching Netflix, hangout or take a nap. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After I complete college and get some sort of degree, I’d love to work with a Native corporation in the city. - What do you miss most about home?
Traveling in and out of home, I realized that I miss the Native food! Especially dried halibut.
Frank Grubbs
- Intern position and department:
Material Handler Intern, Tunista Logistics, JBER, Alaska. - Village tie:
Emmonak, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. - What is your favorite food?
Homemade chicken burgers. - What do you like about your internship?
The exercise. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Hangout with family. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
Be a traveling nurse. - What do you miss most about home?
I don’t live in the village, so I’m home.
Baniika Slats
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Chevak, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Business Administration with a focus on finance. - What is your favorite food?
Sushi. - What do you like about your internship?
I like that there are more positions available each year with Yulista. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
I really enjoy baking desserts. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
After this internship, I would like to finish college and I am still a little unsure on what I would want to do after. - What do you miss most about home?
Spending time with my sisters.
Christopher Friendly
- Intern position and department:
Technology Intern, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Bethel and Eek, Alaska. - School and major:
University of Alaska Anchorage, Technology. - What is your favorite food?
Don’t have one. - What do you like about your internship?
I like the fact I get to work with various technologies. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Outside of work hours I like to walk/hike and play volleyball. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
In all honesty, I would want to work in the I.T. field after the internship. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss the mountains in Alaska.
Asa Pitka
- Intern position and department:
Engineering Intern, Yulista Solutions, Houston, TX. - Village tie:
Toksook Bay, Alaska - School and major:
University of Alaska Fairbanks, BA in Electrical Engineering. - What is your favorite food?
Seal soup. - What do you like about your internship?
What I like about this internship is that I am learning a lot about engineering. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
N/A - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
Currently I am exploring my options on what to do after the internship/graduation. - What do you miss most about home?
One thing I miss about home is fishing.
Alan Xavier
- Intern position and department:
Project Assistant, Yulista Integrated Services, Huntsville, AL. - Village tie:
Pilot Station, Alaska - School and major:
Alaska Christian College, General Studies Program. - What is your favorite food?
My favorite Native food is akutaq and burgers. - What do you like about your internship?
I like the diversity and unlike other companies, Yulista stand with their statement of “We like family”. - What do you like to do outside of work hours?
Outside of work hours, I spend my free time playing volleyball outside of the dorms and catch up with my tv shows on different streaming platforms. - What job are you wanting to do after internship/graduation?
I haven’t given this much thought yet but that will come to me along the road. - What do you miss most about home?
I miss having family around. Although this answer is commonly used with everyone who has been asked this question, there is nothing like having people around who love you unconditionally.
INTERN PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
YulistaCARES BACKPACK PACKING PARTY 2023
Each year, the Calista interns and Shareholders get involved with the annual backpack campaign by packing and sorting backpacks raised by Team Yulista and its communities. This campaign provides necessary school supplies to students in the Calista region and states across the nation. This year the selected villages in the Calista region within the Kuspuk School District are Aniak, Crooked Creek, Sleetmute, and Kalskag.
TAKE YOUR CHILD TO WORK DAY 2023
This year’s “Take Your Child to Work Day” event was a successful turnout! This event is important for our Yulista families because it allows them to learn more about the amazing work we do. Interns like Elton Chanar assisted the crew before the events started by conducting quality checks, assisting with event set up and assembly, including being a friendly face at check in for families attending the event. Additionally, Elton presented alongside Calista Shareholder, Josette John, and informed families about the importance of being an ANC and shared fun facts about Alaska.
Baniika Slats talks about CDRLs
One of my favorite projects that I have done was working on Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs). CDRLs contains data that are required and are formally submitted to our government customers. With this project, I got to sit in on meetings and take notes. After I would document what was being said in the meetings that would correspond to the project slides. I really enjoyed this project because it allowed me to understand more on what my coworkers do and their projects. This project helped me advance and refreshed my skills with Microsoft PowerPoint as well as Microsoft Word. Most of all, I really enjoyed being able to sit in on professional meetings. – Baniika Slats
Valerie Talks Parts and Materials
There are many duties that have become my favorite project during my internship. One of them included putting parts and materials into a location after receiving them from the quality department. Each of the materials are organized in a shelf identified by their abbrevs. Doing this helped me understand to learn how important the steps are and to pay attention to each detail. I’m detail oriented, so this job is perfect for me, and I really enjoy doing this kind of work. After putting them into a location, we carefully enter the data into the system and making sure to include every number and letter on the parts and materials so that each item will be easily located for when it is needed. – Valerie Wiseman
Check out the “Day in the Life of a Calista Intern” series as Marketing Intern, Elton Chanar, gives you a sneak peak into what they did this summer. Each video includes their time in different departments and all the fun activities they did on their free time!
WEEK 4
WEEK 5 & 6
WEEK 7
The @CalistaCorp offers an internship program to its shareholders and descendants each summer. The internship program not only offers compensation for the participants but also invests in the interns to a program that is educational and has a window of hands-on work experiences. This way the interns will pursue new skillsets that will enhance the knowledge they already have. The interns get into diverse industries such as engineering, accounting, government contracting, business, marketing, cultural preservation, and a lot more.
This summer we had an intern with the marketing department who completed a project to showcase the interns and program with Yulista. The website landing page includes a profile of each shareholder or descendant working in various subsidiaries, intern project highlights, and weekly short videos that shows the life of the interns. This project specifically allowed Elton, the Marketing intern, experience with websites and WordPress, graphic design, video integration, and content writing. We think it`s a great way to highlight some of the projects the interns were involved with over the summer!
Visit the Intern page at the link in our bio! (https://bit.ly/3DxBE9X)
#NationalInternDay #TeamYulista #CalistaCorporation #internships #AlaskaNative #InternLife #YulistaInternLife