Providing Opportunities for our Next Generation
Storyknife, September/October 2025 edition
The 2025 Calista Internship Program provided 22 Shareholders and Descendants with a 10-week competitively paid internship. The program funded 36 positions and filled 22 positions, 15 in Alaska and 8 out-of-state. Interns applied lessons learned in the classroom to gain real world experience.
“Whether it was an employee of Nordic-Calista or a fellow intern, I was always excited to get to know them,” says Madison Glore, a Calista Shareholder who interned with the Nordic-Calista HR team. “I value creating relationships for the long run.”
Glore has village ties to Lower Kalskag, Aniak and Chevak and is entering her fourth year at Northern Arizona University, studying Psychology. “Everyone who works for Calista and its subsidiaries bring a light to the community; it was great to be part of that team.”
In addition to their internship work, the interns were invited to weekly talks with special guest speakers, including Calista President & CEO Andrew Guy. The interns had the chance to better understand how our corporation works with Q&A sessions with each speaker.
Many interns liken their experience back to the way they’ve lived back home in the Region, including Tyler Andrew, this year’s Calista IT Help Desk Intern.
“As a current Computer Science undergraduate [at the University of Alaska Anchorage], I bring a unique perspective shaped by strong ties to the communities of St. Mary’s and Bethel,” Tyler says. “My roots instill in me a deep commitment to collaboration and inclusion. I am passionate about developing technologies that serve our rural communities.”
In Tyler’s case, and like many interns, his background motivates him to contribute to the corporation through internship work. He can move the company forward while gaining personal experience and see how our work is intertwined with our cultural values and Yuuyaraq way of life.
“The opportunity to work and immerse myself more with the Alaska Native community was incredible to see. It was great to worked alongside a team that values teamwork and assists our community to the best of their ability,” says Valerie Rodriguez, a Calista Shareholder with ties to Bethel who interned with the Calista Shareholder Services team this year.
The Calista Internship program accepts applications from December to March. Eligible applicants are Calista Shareholders or Descendants, at least 18 years old, and enrolled full-time in a college, vocational training program, or is a high school senior with proof of future enrollment. The program begins in May and typically ends in early August.
“I would recommend the internship program to all Shareholders and Descendants of Calista.”
Valerie Rodriguez, 2025 Shareholder Services Intern
“The internship has opened a new career path for me to explore, creating a more well-rounded portfolio and shows that my work is useful for the corporation,” says Genavieve Beans, Calista Shareholder and Training Media intern with the Calista Finance Department. She is a junior at the University of Alaska Fairbanks this fall, pursuing a BA in Arts.
Beyond the learning experience, the competitive pay and cultural and business knowledge shared with the interns, the program is a key initiative to building Calista’s workforce.
Last year a record of five interns transitioned into full-time positions across the Calista family of companies in fields like construction, IT, administration and finance. Additionally, six interns have received offers after their internship in 2025.
“I have met some of the most amazing people, who have taught me some valuable lessons,” says Rodriguez. “I would recommend the internship program to all Shareholders and Descendants of Calista.”
