History of Amundsen Educational Center
Rev. Bruckner, Rev. Londborg, Rev. Amundsen, Dr. Fortuine
The Amundsen Educational Center is a faith-based vocational training school that primarily serves Alaska Native students. Such a school had long been the dream of Rev. Roald Amundsen, a long-term missionary and pilot who was the founder and director of Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC) in Soldotna. When a parcel of land was donated to Amundsen for charitable purposes in the mid-90s, he asked the help of Rev. Maynard Londborg and Rev. Donald Bruckner in establishing plans for a vocational school. Londborg and Bruckner added veteran Alaskan physician Dr. Robert Fortuine to the group and the three met regularly to develop plans for the venture, which was finally incorporated in 1996. The founders named the school in honor of Rev. Amundsen in recognition of his dream and his lifetime of service in Alaska.
Much essential developmental work was then carried out over the next few years under the leadership of the first director, Del Corrick. After a pilot project in Fairbanks coordinated through Covenant Youth of Alaska and Byron Bruckner, the school formally opened in Soldotna in the fall of 2001. Shortly thereafter, AEC became authorized through the Alaska Commission of Postsecondary Education to provide graduates with a 1st year Certificate in Residential Construction, and a 2nd year Advanced Certificate in Residential Construction.
This training in construction eventually led to the creation of Building Hope Construction. More than 40 students from 18 rural villages have been trained to build homes through the BHC program. BHC has found a niche serving Native Alaskans through a culturally relevant, student-centered education characterized by small class sizes (1 instructor: 5 students) and intensely practical instruction. Additionally, the community living environment encourages students from rural Alaska in areas of personal development and offers comprehensive training for employment in the Alaskan construction industry.
Today AEC continues to provide vocational training in a faith-based environment for rural Alaskans. This mission is accomplished by providing students with quality vocational and work-readiness instruction, fostering a culturally relevant learning environment, honoring the dignity of every student, building a safe, nurturing community, and by creating a network of synergistic partnerships.
In January 2008, AEC acquired New Frontier Vocational Technical Center, a community based training school with a 25 year history of serving students in the Central Kenai Peninsula. Thus, AEC now operates two educational departments: Building Hope Construction and New Frontier Vocational Technical Center. BHC engages students in the construction of homes from footings to finish carpentry that are sold upon completion. New Frontier offers vocational tracks that focus on entry level business and office education.
Much essential developmental work was then carried out over the next few years under the leadership of the first director, Del Corrick. After a pilot project in Fairbanks coordinated through Covenant Youth of Alaska and Byron Bruckner, the school formally opened in Soldotna in the fall of 2001. Shortly thereafter, AEC became authorized through the Alaska Commission of Postsecondary Education to provide graduates with a 1st year Certificate in Residential Construction, and a 2nd year Advanced Certificate in Residential Construction.
This training in construction eventually led to the creation of Building Hope Construction. More than 40 students from 18 rural villages have been trained to build homes through the BHC program. BHC has found a niche serving Native Alaskans through a culturally relevant, student-centered education characterized by small class sizes (1 instructor: 5 students) and intensely practical instruction. Additionally, the community living environment encourages students from rural Alaska in areas of personal development and offers comprehensive training for employment in the Alaskan construction industry.
Today AEC continues to provide vocational training in a faith-based environment for rural Alaskans. This mission is accomplished by providing students with quality vocational and work-readiness instruction, fostering a culturally relevant learning environment, honoring the dignity of every student, building a safe, nurturing community, and by creating a network of synergistic partnerships.
In January 2008, AEC acquired New Frontier Vocational Technical Center, a community based training school with a 25 year history of serving students in the Central Kenai Peninsula. Thus, AEC now operates two educational departments: Building Hope Construction and New Frontier Vocational Technical Center. BHC engages students in the construction of homes from footings to finish carpentry that are sold upon completion. New Frontier offers vocational tracks that focus on entry level business and office education.
History of Amundsen Educational Center:
