BSNC congratulates shareholder Dr. Christina Darby, shareholder Anne Sears and Carol Seppilu who each received Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) President’s Awards. These AFN awardees were nominated by BSNC and recognized virtually at the 2020 AFN Convention.
Shareholder Dr. Christina Darby received the President’s Health Award for her work as a Sleep Physician at the Alaska Native Medical Center.Awardees are selected for their strong commitment, competence and sensitivity in the health field, whose accomplishments have improved health care for Alaska Native people. Dr. Darby is an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Fellow, ATHENA inductee,National Center for American Indian EnterpriseDevelopment “Native American Top 40 under 40”awardee and delegate for the 2015 and 2019 World Congressional Sleep Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and Vancouver, Canada, respectively. She is a member of the Association of American Indian Physicians.
Shareholder Anne Sears received the Glenn Godfrey Law Enforcement Award. This award recognizes an Alaska Native law enforcement officer who has shown outstanding dedication to the safety of the public in Alaska, often requiring heroic courage in the face of danger. Sears was the first female Alaska Native State Trooper hired and has served as a Trooper for more than 19 years and in law enforcement for more than 20 years. Sears received the Never Quit Service Award from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in 2016 for demonstrating true dedication to her work. Sears is often recognized as one of the Troopers on National Geographic’s show Alaska State Troopers.
Nome resident Carol Seppilu received the Hannah Paul Solomon “Woman of Courage” President’s Award. Seppilu runs long distances to tell her story of overcoming depression and to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Her goal is to reach every state in the U.S. but she is currently focusing on her home here in Alaska. She and a friend are working on a project called Kilgaaqu Run Series where they will run all three roads in Nome. Kilgaaqu means “a long- distance run” in Siberian Yupik.