FAIRBANKS — To mark the 25th anniversary of the African American Student Leadership Conference this year, local organizers plan two separate programs geared to middle school and high school students from all ethnic backgrounds.

The celebratory theme this year is “Life: Living Intentionally for Excellence. It’s a Celebration!” said conference founder and coordinator Virgie Dunlap-King.

King, now retired, was a teacher at Tanana Middle School 26 years ago when she came up with the idea to put on a conference featuring successful, professional black speakers to inspire, encourage and educate local black students as to their individual potential.

The next year, the conference program was extended to all students at district high schools.