REYNE Marie ATHANAS

• Leadership
• Art
• Entrepreneurship
Inducted: 2020
REYNE Marie ATHANAS
Arriving in Bethel in 1973, Reyne Athanas became involved in art, education, and women’s rights. She started Art Club at Bethel Regional High School (BRHS) encouraging all students to express themselves. She is one of the founders of Tundra Women’s Coalition, which for 46 years has provided emergency, prevention, and outreach services, and coached volleyball ten years to show students females can coach.
Athanas became involved with Bethel Council on the Arts in 1974 and was president for many years. BCA brings state, national, and international musicians and artists to the Region to perform and do outreach and sponsors the 3-day Camai Dance Festival.
After confronting a student shooter at BRHS in 1997, Athanas took a two year hiatus during which she started the Emerging Scholars Program at UAF Kuskokwim Campus. She became director of Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center, believing YPCC should not be limited to a rental facility but be the community and cultural center for Bethel and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region.
Programs started at YPCC since 2004 include Saturday Markets; Best in the West small business competition; Bethel Bowls; Taste of Bethel; Summer Youth Art Camps; Twisted River Film Festivals; annual Dog Show; Open Mic nights; Art Exhibits; and Kuskokwim Art Guild, a consortium of artists and craftsman with a gift shop.
When asked what allowed her to think of so many different activities and programs for Bethel, Athanas responded that part of her being an artist is not to limit herself and to go beyond boundaries and edges. If an idea occurs, see if it is possible to make it happen.
Athanas received the Bill Bivens Community Service Award, Alaska’s American Red Cross Hero Education Award, Lower Kuskokwim Teacher of the Year, and Coach of the Year Award twice.
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