Class Note 2005
Issue
July-August 2026
Class Note 2005. Hi,’05s—I hope everyone is having a great start to 2026 and looking forward to my favorite time of year (summer).
Elizabeth Saagulik Hensley wrote in to share an update. She is enjoying life with her partner, Reid, daughter Aqattaq (15), son Piitaq (12), and team of sled dogs. They live above the Arctic Circle on their Indigenous Iñupiaq homelands and enjoy traveling the country by Sno-Go, dog team, and boat, taking in the beauty and hunting, fishing, and harvesting from the tundra. Merrick Johnston visited for bird hunting last fall—what a hoot! Professionally, in her postfederal and state government, corporate executive, and law firm partner era, Saagulik has a solo law practice supporting projects that advance the well-being and economy of northwest Alaska and just wrapped up a stint as director of her tribe’s Iñupiaq language immersion school. She coaches middle and high school cross-country running and volunteers at events such as Native Youth Olympics competitions and dog sled races with her family.
I also wanted to flag that our 25th reunion will be held in Hanover in June 2030. Unlike our prior reunions, our 25th reunion will be on the 25th anniversary of our class of 2005 graduation, rather than grouped with other classes. To mark the occasion, reunion is typically held across four days (Thursday through Sunday).
We (your class officers) would like to start to build excitement and class unity in anticipation of this event. In that spirit, I am reaching out to recruit fellow class members to help us plan! If you have any interest in being involved, please let me know. It is not a huge commitment and will pay dividends to make sure that we have an epic reunion. Please join us in making it happen!
Send updates with the subject matter “2005 Class Notes” to my email below.
—Ainslee Withey, 1750 Vallejo St., Apt 303, San Francisco, CA 94123; ainslee.withey@gmail.com
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Elizabeth Saagulik Hensley wrote in to share an update. She is enjoying life with her partner, Reid, daughter Aqattaq (15), son Piitaq (12), and team of sled dogs. They live above the Arctic Circle on their Indigenous Iñupiaq homelands and enjoy traveling the country by Sno-Go, dog team, and boat, taking in the beauty and hunting, fishing, and harvesting from the tundra. Merrick Johnston visited for bird hunting last fall—what a hoot! Professionally, in her postfederal and state government, corporate executive, and law firm partner era, Saagulik has a solo law practice supporting projects that advance the well-being and economy of northwest Alaska and just wrapped up a stint as director of her tribe’s Iñupiaq language immersion school. She coaches middle and high school cross-country running and volunteers at events such as Native Youth Olympics competitions and dog sled races with her family.
I also wanted to flag that our 25th reunion will be held in Hanover in June 2030. Unlike our prior reunions, our 25th reunion will be on the 25th anniversary of our class of 2005 graduation, rather than grouped with other classes. To mark the occasion, reunion is typically held across four days (Thursday through Sunday).
We (your class officers) would like to start to build excitement and class unity in anticipation of this event. In that spirit, I am reaching out to recruit fellow class members to help us plan! If you have any interest in being involved, please let me know. It is not a huge commitment and will pay dividends to make sure that we have an epic reunion. Please join us in making it happen!
Send updates with the subject matter “2005 Class Notes” to my email below.
—Ainslee Withey, 1750 Vallejo St., Apt 303, San Francisco, CA 94123; ainslee.withey@gmail.com