Spring Graduate Spotlight: John Knight
This spring, John Knight will walk across the stage as a proud graduate of Alaska Pacific University, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. A lifelong Alaskan, Knight was born and raised in Anchorage and is of Yup’ik descent. He’s a shareholder of the Calista Corporation, representing the Bethel Region, and someone who proudly blends his cultural roots with a drive to give back to his community.
Finding the Right Fit at APU
Before coming to APU, Knight attended Mat-Su Community College and later began working toward a business degree at UAA. But it wasn’t until he enrolled at APU in fall 2023 that things began to really click. Encouraged by his brother, Cody LeBeau—an APU alum—Knight found the personalized, modular learning model at APU to be exactly what he needed.
“Out of the colleges I’ve gone to, I really like how APU’s laid out,” he says. “The module system makes the semester feel a lot less overwhelming. You can focus your time and attention on each class.”
Balancing Work, Life, and School
Each semester at APU is divided into two seven-week modules, allowing students like Knight—who balances full-time work with school—to thrive in a focused, manageable learning environment. Knight works at Southcentral Foundation in the Provider Enrollment Department, part of the organization’s revenue cycle. There, he helps enroll and maintain licensure for healthcare providers, a role that aligns closely with his studies and future aspirations.
He’s also no stranger to Southcentral’s broader operations, having previously worked both as a pharmacy technician and at ANTHC before returning. After graduation, Knight plans to continue his work at Southcentral, using his business degree to move into a leadership or management role within the organization.
A Love for Learning (and Guitar)
While business and healthcare might seem like his primary focus, Knight also has a creative side—he plays guitar, a passion that blossomed after taking Guitar 101 during his senior year at APU. “It was a lot of fun, and I highly recommend it,” he says with a smile.
Reflecting on his academic journey, Knight names Statistics II as one of his most impactful courses. “It was always an intimidating subject because I’d never taken it before. I really had to put the time in to understand it, but once I did, I found it really interesting—and I could finally make sense of statistical topics.”
Equally memorable was the mentorship of faculty like Beverly Holmes, who served as both an advisor and instructor. “She was amazing,” Knight shares. “And I really appreciated the diversity of students at APU—from those just out of high school to older students like me who are working full-time. Everyone’s been kind, respectful, and supportive.”
That sense of support extended beyond the classroom. Knight was able to complete his degree without taking out student loans, thanks in part to APU’s generous donor-funded scholarships. “APU makes it so easy to apply for those,” he says.
From Personal Experience to Senior Project
For his senior project, Knight combined his business acumen with a personal mission: emergency preparedness. Inspired by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Alaska’s 7.1 earthquake in 2018, he developed a business concept called Alaska Ready to Go Meals—a self-contained emergency meal kit that includes food, fresh water, and a heat source. “I realized that having freeze-dried food was great,” he explains, “but without clean water or a way to heat it, it’s not very useful. This kit is designed to have everything in one package.”
To current and future APU students, Knight offers this advice: “Don’t give up. There might be times you feel burned out and can’t keep up, but take a break if you need to—just don’t stop. I’m very grateful I pushed through.”
As graduation nears, Knight reflects on his time at APU with gratitude. “I’m not trying to make this an ad for APU,” he laughs, “but I can’t recommend it enough. It’s been my favorite out of all the places I’ve studied.”
From guitars to statistics, from business plans to community health, John Knight exemplifies the kind of well-rounded, grounded leadership APU aims to cultivate. We’re proud to celebrate his journey—and can’t wait to see what he does next.
