Director of Alternative Energy , Sonny Adams , shakes hands with US Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) - Rural Development Alaska State Director , Jim Nordlund after his announcement that nine grant applications from Alaska scored sufficiently high enough to move to the final level of review .

Suuyuk discovered baking at an early age by helping her aunts in the kitchen , “ My passion for baking began with cake decorating with my aunt Lori ( Hanna ) and so far that is still my favorite thing to do ,” Baker said . After graduating from South High School in Anchorage this spring , Suuyuk buckled down , baking everything from cookies to pastries in her parent ’ s kitchen in Anchorage . “ Making 10lbs of bread dough five days a week for a couple of months has made me come to really enjoy making bread ,” Baker joked .

The SkillsUSA Championships represent the culmination of more than 10,000 contests held at local , district and state levels across the United States . The competition consists of two tests : the written test evaluates baking knowledge and a performance test evaluates the contestants baking skills . The contestant must produce breads , rolls , cookies , pastries , and pies in a timed job-like setting .

“ These competitions made me realize how capable I am when I ’ m focused and passionate about something . I ’ ve learned to be flexible about everything ; there ’ s always another way to do something if need be and to be , detail orientated . Sometimes the tiniest details will determine if you win or not ,” Baker said .

Suuyuk started her first day at the Culinary Institute of America in Greystone , California

( Top ) Suuyuk Jordyn Baker ’ s family traveled to Kentucky to support her during the SkillsUSA Commercial Baking Competition . ( l to r : Mike Baker , Jordyn Baker , and sisters Megan Sherman and Lena Baker ).

Suuyuk Jordyn Baker shows off her first place gold medal .

this fall . She plans on receiving an associates degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and an associates degree in Business Management . Baker ’ s long-term goal is to return to Alaska and open her own bakery that features European type bread and pastries . On advice that she has to shareholders looking for a career ? “ There ’ s no point in having a job you hate , it doesn ’ t benefit anyone .”

Baker is the daughter of Rusa and Mike Baker of Kotzebue and granddaughter of Lena and the late Dallas Hanna and the late Marge and Bob Baker of Kotzebue .

Energy storage batteries will allow the electric systems in Deering and Buckland to capture all the renewable energy that is generated from wind and solar . The new storage batteries will be especially helpful with new solar panels being installed in these two villages . Without batteries , some of the energy is lost due to how the resources can change abruptly . The existing generators cannot always respond quickly enough to fill the gap in energy coverage .

“ Another benefit that batteries could bring is the ability for Buckland and Deering to turn their diesel generators off when the wind and solar resources are abundant ,” said NANA ’ s Director of Alternative Energy , Sonny Adams . “ As a result , diesel fuel consumption could drop significantly , saving the communities a lot of money .”

Kotzebue recently installed a battery on its electric grid , and is now optimizing the system with diesel generators and wind turbines . With these three villages combined , the Northwest Arctic could have an impressive collection of “ diesel-off ” communities that could be a role model for the rest of Alaska and other dieseldependent communities around the world .

NANA is in the very early stages of the grant process , but hopes to have the energy storage batteries installed by the summer of 2017 if selected for the grant .

Energy projects like the storage batteries could lead to broader business strategies , and other opportunities that could help the entire NANA Region .