St. Herman Seminary begins its 37^th year of classes to train men and women to serve the Orthodox Church here in Alaska and elsewhere. Our seminarians who are from the Diocese of Alaska continue to receive scholarship support that covers tuition and books. These scholarships are funded through contributions of individual donors. Two new seminarians with their families come from native villages of about 300 people that are between the two mighty rivers of Alaska, the Yukon and the Kuskokwim. This is also the region where in 1844 the great native missionary St. Yakov Netsvetov labored for the church in Alaska. Today it is where the Orthodox Church is the strongest in Alaska. Beginning his first year, a single seminarian whose father is a priest comes from a village on the shore of Lake Iliamna, which is the largest lake in Alaska. Also studying at St. Herman's are a Japanese monastic, Fr. Timothey, and a woman monastic who will be helping to coordinate the women’s group on campus. This brings the total of 47 people living on campus. Two seniors will be graduating at the end of the school year and begin their labors for the Church in Alaska. At the Diocesan Assembly in October, three seminarians will be ordained into Holy Orders.