Celebrations On The Air

High school graduates in Nome had a very different graduation ceremony this year.

Students paraded through town wearing caps and gowns, in creatively decorated vehicles of various types. On the car radio, KNOM’s live coverage of the parade provided both a musical soundtrack and a live call-in show sharing congratulatory messages from teachers, family, and community members across Western Alaska.

Nome graduates Lisa Okbaok (Nome-Beltz High School) and Maggie Miller (Mount Edgecumbe High School).

This is the latest in a series of on-air partnerships with other community organizations.

While some COVID-19 restrictions remain in place into the summer, children will hear the familiar voice of Nome’s local librarian reading stories on the Kids’ Show.

Graduates standing aboard a boat in Nome’s Graduation Parade.

Also, thanks to a collaboration between Norton Sound Health Corporation and Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, current messages about staying safe from COVID-19 have been broadcast daily. The segment is titled Sikullautaq (pronounced “sik-oo-LOW-tuq”), meaning “good ice” and is produced by former KNOM news director, Laureli Ivanoff.

Image at top: Nome-Beltz Graduate Ellie Martinson’s family wave as she holds up her diploma.

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