When Samantha Fuller isn’t sleeping under the midnight sun exploring Alaska's largest glaciers, she can be found strutting down the halls of Salmon Arm Secondary in her cowboy boots with her guitar in hand.

Sam is an accomplished Grade 11 student who just arrived home from the trip of a lifetime. Last month, Sam joined a team of nine girls who spent 12 days in Alaska. Sam was one of 18 girls chosen from a group of 1,200 applicants from the United States and Canada to participate in an amazing program called “Girls on Ice Alaska”.

“Girls on Ice Alaska” is a unique, tuition-free, wilderness science education program for high-school girls. Each year two teams of nine girls and three instructors spend 12 days exploring and learning about mountain glaciers and the alpine landscape through scientific field studies. This program brings together students from Alaska, Pacific Northwest, California, British Columbia and Yukon Territory that represent many different lifestyles, cultures and levels of outdoor experience.

On this adventure, Sam had the opportunity to learn alongside a wildlife biologist, a glaciologist, a chemical oceanographer, a mountaineer, a professional artist and a photographer. Sam examined the behaviours of the ravens on Gulkana Glacier and was astounded viewing the magnificent icefalls.

Sam is a role model for other First Nations girls who are watching her successes and being motivated to follow in her footsteps. She has a passion for animals. When she graduates she would like to become a wildlife veterinarian. If Sam keeps reaching for the stars and following her passion, no doubt she will be a very successful wildlife veterinarian one day. 

“This trip has expanded my horizons of study, and deepened my interests for the outdoors, explorations and biology. Through "Girls on Ice Alaska", I met so many passionate women that have inspired me to follow my own passions. I would love to thank all of the people that helped make this trip possible. It was a life-changer for me. Most of all, thanks to Diyame Derrick, our Aboriginal education worker at Salmon Arm Secondary. I can never thank you enough for helping make this trip a reality for me.”

Read more B.C. student success stories.