Alaska Pacific University
  • Majors & Institutes
  • Admissions & Costs
  • Student Life & Activities
  • About APU & Our Campus
  • Virtual Campus Tour
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
Alaska Pacific University

Discover Active Learning

  • Majors & Institutes
  • Admissions & Costs
  • Student Life & Activities
  • About APU & Our Campus
  • Virtual Campus Tour
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362

College Fundamentals from APU: Dewey Hoffman’s Early Honors Experience

Dewey Headshot2

By Aaron Tooyak

“Every year growing up we would go back home to Ruby, to our summer fish camp called Big Eddy,” he said as he pointed to a picture of a smokehouse sitting on the side of a river in his office. Dewey Kk’ołeyo Hoffman, Koyukon Athabaskan, was named after his great grandfather, whose name means “long distance walker.”

Passing his first checkpoint, Dewey graduated from APU’s Early Honors program in 2004. The Early Honors program is our dual credit option available for high school students to fulfill their graduation requirements while starting their college career.

Soon after, Dewey obtained his undergraduate degree in Native American Studies and Portuguese at Dartmouth College in 2009. He revealed his insight into how his Early Honors experience gave him the fundamentals he needed to thrive in college. “The Early Honors program gives a jumpstart to intellectually curious students. It’s something different and new. The catch is you have to be self-motivated and be open to learning new ways of thinking.”

He shared how the Critical Thinking class changed the way he processed information through fact validation techniques. “Mark Fallers’ logic course blew my mind.” Dewey also gained confidence presenting in front of small classes, which helped him overcome stage fright. He noted how APU developed his ability to have “clear, succinct writing” and how to communicate with other people.

This path led him to become the Leadership Development Director at First Alaskans Institute, where he was project lead for the 2015 statewide Elders and Youth Conference. Donating to APU is “directly investing in APU’s students – it is a direct investment in our youth.”

Primary Sidebar

Recent Stories

“The value of this connection is unexplainable:” EPH students visit Napaskiak

APU grads present Arctic research at the Explorers Club

Photobook: Spring 2022 Commencement

Business grad turns senior project into $11,000 business win

Earn an MFA under the midnight sun

You Are Here: Home / Stories / College Fundamentals from APU: Dewey Hoffman’s Early Honors Experience

Footer

Alaska Pacific University
4101 University Drive • Anchorage, Alaska 99508
  • Careers
  • Donate
  • Conferencing Services
  • Campus Store
  • Transcripts

© 2022 Alaska Pacific University · All Rights Reserved · Notice Regarding Web Accessibility · Privacy Policy · Website Credits