UAA College of Business and Public Policy

REM+I Workshop Introduces High School Students to Real Estate Investing and Careers

July 25, 2023

Each July, the Weidner Property Management and Real Estate (WPM+RE) Program hosts an interactive, three-day workshop at UAA’s College of Business and Public Policy for high school students and recent graduates. The Real Estate Management and Investment (REM+I) Workshop offers a glimpse into the world of real estate investing, rental properties, cash flow analysis, property management, and the various career paths in the real estate industry.

20 participants from 11 area high schools were selected by application to attend at no cost. Students spend the first two days in the innovative Weidner Center for Real Estate Management, learning investment fundamentals and then working in teams to analyze actual properties listed on the market. They gather information and make assumptions to prepare and deliver a presentation to their peers about the neighborhood, property features, competitive characteristics, and projected financial performance of the asset.

This year, each team had an alumni or current student from the WPM+RE Program at their table to help guide their discussion and research. One of the guests was Lucas Adams, a WPM+RE student and owner/broker for Motto Mortgage. For Lucas, this volunteer opportunity was “full-circle,” since he was a participant in the first REM+I Workshop in 2019.

“My favorite part of this workshop was finding and presenting on our own property, because it really put the basics into perspective in a way my group and I could easily understand,” says Bailey “Ky” Harris, a junior at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School. Kailene “Kai” Vea-Spencer, a senior in the Alaska Middle College School appreciated the chance to network with fellow students who share her interests and who love to learn just as much she does.

Another popular activity is the site tours organized on the final day of the workshop. The 2023 visits showcased a variety of asset types, including The Highlands Apartments (Weidner Apartment Homes), Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (JL Properties), an industrial warehouse/office mixed-use space (Infinity Commercial Real Estate), and Alaska Regional Hospital (CBRE). Industry professionals – including some recent graduates from the program – provided tours and shined a light into their day-to-day world and operations. Students explored everything from townhouse-style apartments to undeveloped medical office space to rooftop HVAC and building systems for a Class A office building.

Christy Miller, a recent graduate of Wasilla High School and incoming freshman at UAA says, “I was able to meet successful businessmen and women, visit properties, learn about the many opportunities the university gives out, and really get a feel for the industry. I was considering a degree like this, and after this workshop I know that this is the degree I want to pursue. The success rate and the different stories from current and graduated students really opened my eyes to the endless opportunities available through this program.”

“That is the goal,” explains Terry Fields, Program Coordinator and Associate Professor for the WPM+RE Program. “We began offering these workshops to generate awareness of this career pathway at the high school level, giving students the opportunity to discover this track early in their academic careers and positioning them to benefit from the WPM+RE Program for a full four years – i.e. networking, internships, scholarships, travel opportunities, etc.”

For participants like Catey Habberstad – a recent graduate of South Anchorage High School and incoming freshman at UAA – the benefits don't have to end with the workshop. Students who attend a REM+I Workshop and ultimately continue on to pursue the property management and real estate degree program at UAA can receive an extra $1,000 scholarship in their freshman year.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the REM+I Workshop, reach out to Terry Fields at tjfields@alaska.edu or (907) 786-4136 to learn more. Applications for next summer’s workshop will be available in January 2024.