What’s life like at GILA?
Life at GILA is vibrant, welcoming, and full of opportunity. Students live in a supportive residential community alongside peers from all across Alaska, representing a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. Every day brings chances to relax, have fun, build new friendships, and try something new.
By living and learning together, students strengthen their independence, curiosity, judgment, and decision-making skills that serve them well at GILA and far beyond.
Ptarmigan Hall
Ptarmigan Hall is GILA’s three-story residence hall, home to up to 350 students and several live-in staff members. The building features comfortable lounges, activity rooms, and program spaces, with upper-floor views of the airstrip, the Yukon River, and the mountains beyond.
Kkuskkuno
Kkuskkuno—the Athabascan word for “a place to gather”—is GILA’s Student Union Building (SUB). It’s the hub of campus life, offering a game room with billiards, air hockey, and ping-pong, along with a student store/coffee shop, resale shop, student kitchen, and a movie/video game room. Monthly dances, open mic nights, and other social events take place here.
Dining
The Two Seasons Dining Hall serves three meals a day on school days and two on non-school days. Our skilled kitchen staff prepare a variety of options, including fresh fruit, a full salad bar, desserts, and hearty entrées—not your typical school cafeteria food.
Gymnasium
The GILA gymnasium includes a three-quarter–size basketball court, weight room, racquetball courts, and a classroom. It’s used for physical education during the school day and opens for student recreation in the evenings and on weekends.
Building a Positive Environment with “3 Before Me”
Making Math Class “a Playground”
The welding students fabricated a flatbed!
Students have been writing and reading their own poetry to practice public speaking skills!
Algebra Bridge: The Adventure Continues!
Students learning to thrive in their Study Skills Class
GILA Aviation Student Using Flight Simulator.
We love Math Class!
Outdoor Learning in Geometry Class at GILA
Robotics are an excellent way to learn!
GILA carpentry students test out the skateboards they made in class.
GILA Music Students
Carpentry class project—skateboards!
Drama, Debate & Forensics State Championship Award!
Cosmetology students are using both thermal & wet setting techniques
Cosmetology students learn in our amazing on-site salon.
Jamal hitting a rock to fakie (very proud!)
Physical Science class students experiment with balloon rockets
Unalakleet XC Skiing
GILA students testing out their mousetrap race cars
GILA Carpentry student cutting out new quarter pipe
Math! Math! Math!
GILA students exploring probabilities in science class
Bridging the physical & virtual realms in Physics Class.
Bridging the physical & virtual realms in Physics Class.
New learning space!
GILA’s music program is a big hit every year!
Library
Commons
Hallway artwork
