| Elsa Malapit Sargento Anchorage, Alaska First Filipina to reach Hall of Fame in Alaska |
Elsa Malapit Sargento was born in Bangui, Ilocos Norte in
the Philippines. Being a daughter of a school principal and
community leaders: Sotero and Carmen Malapit, she led a
privileged lifestyle in an idyllic setting.
Ms. Sargento earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary
Education in 1965 at Northern Luzon Teachers’ College, in
Ilocos Norte. In 1970, she completed her Master’s
Equivalency at the Philippine Normal College in Manila. Ms.
Sargento taught for ten years in the Philippines and married
Angel Sargento. On January 5, 1974, Ms. Sargento
migrated to Anchorage for opportunity and found out that it
went hand in hand with hard work. At first, she worked
menial jobs while improving her English. In her efforts to
pursue her teaching career, she received her Master’s
Degree in Education from the University of Alaska
Anchorage in 1977 and Masters in School Administration
from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1981.
From then on her outstanding involvement with the school
and community led to various awards namely, Racial
Justice Award and Presidential Award from the Filipino
Community of Anchorage , Alaska (1996) ; Delta Kappa”
the Philippines. Being a daughter of a school principal and
community leaders: Sotero and Carmen Malapit, she led a
privileged lifestyle in an idyllic setting.
Ms. Sargento earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary
Education in 1965 at Northern Luzon Teachers’ College, in
Ilocos Norte. In 1970, she completed her Master’s
Equivalency at the Philippine Normal College in Manila. Ms.
Sargento taught for ten years in the Philippines and married
Angel Sargento. On January 5, 1974, Ms. Sargento
migrated to Anchorage for opportunity and found out that it
went hand in hand with hard work. At first, she worked
menial jobs while improving her English. In her efforts to
pursue her teaching career, she received her Master’s
Degree in Education from the University of Alaska
Anchorage in 1977 and Masters in School Administration
from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1981.
From then on her outstanding involvement with the school
and community led to various awards namely, Racial
Justice Award and Presidential Award from the Filipino
Community of Anchorage , Alaska (1996) ; Delta Kappa”
Golden Award (1997); Chinook Teacher of the Year and BP Teacher of Excellence Award Certificate
(1998); Fil-Am Showtime Outstanding Achievement Award (2000); Recognized and honored by the
Anchorage Municipal Assembly as a participant in winning for Anchorage the “All America City” award
(2002).
After her early retirement in 1998, Ms. Sargento continued to serve the Filipino-American community in
various volunteer services in the city of Anchorage, and in the state of Alaska. Some of the positions Ms.
Sargento currently hold are: President of the Bridge Builders of Anchorage—an organization bridging the
different racial and cultural groups with a goal of creating the very first city without prejudice and
Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Alaska Federation of Filipino-Americans, Inc.
As the founder, past president for two consecutive years and current Chairwoman of the Board of
Directors of the Alaska Federation of Filipino Americans, Inc, Ms. Sargento led the federation in the
belief that “rather than limit our focus to traditional minority issues like immigration policy and foreign
aid to the Philippines, we must consider to name a few, the mainstream domestic issues like education
policy, health care and tax reform, and that we have a moral obligation to intermix within the mainstream
society by sharing our experiences, our weaknesses, our strengths to cause a change that will benefit
mankind.”
In 2003, because of her distinguished leadership, dedication, and services to the community, Alaska
Governor Frank Murkowski with his utmost faith and confidence, appointed Ms. Sargento as the
Executive Director of the Alaska State Community Service Commission. This is the governor’s
commission that promotes volunteerism and ethics of service. It oversees and manages the
development of the state system for recruiting and placing participants into national service programs
that receives assistance under national service laws through the Corporation for National and
Community Service.
As the Filipino-American Community in Alaska grew in population of more than 16,000 residents who
share the rich heritage, the community became divided. Ms. Sargento led a group of leaders who
formed an over-arching organization to promote harmony among the Filipinos in 2003. She was the
obvious choice for president. She led the group in rallying the support of 12 of the 15 Filipino
organizations in creating a July 4th Parade float that won the grand champion trophy in 2004 and again
in 2005.
In November 13, 2004, Elsa M. Sargento was inducted into the 2004 Asian Academy Hall of Fame at a
knighting ceremony in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ms. Sargento is the first Alaskan woman and the first
Filipino-American in the state to ever receive this honor. She stood among seven other recipients
selected from across the world to become the newest inductees in to the Asian Academy Hall of Fame.
The Asian Academy Hall of Fame was created to shine the light on outstanding Asians so they may
serve as role models for all the young people of the world. The goal is to bring every diverse Asian
American communities together and pay tribute to those who have made a substantial difference to
their culture and society.
Hard work is the hallmark of Ms. Elsa M. Sargento. She has balanced family and career with community
service work for three decades in Anchorage, Alaska.
(1998); Fil-Am Showtime Outstanding Achievement Award (2000); Recognized and honored by the
Anchorage Municipal Assembly as a participant in winning for Anchorage the “All America City” award
(2002).
After her early retirement in 1998, Ms. Sargento continued to serve the Filipino-American community in
various volunteer services in the city of Anchorage, and in the state of Alaska. Some of the positions Ms.
Sargento currently hold are: President of the Bridge Builders of Anchorage—an organization bridging the
different racial and cultural groups with a goal of creating the very first city without prejudice and
Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Alaska Federation of Filipino-Americans, Inc.
As the founder, past president for two consecutive years and current Chairwoman of the Board of
Directors of the Alaska Federation of Filipino Americans, Inc, Ms. Sargento led the federation in the
belief that “rather than limit our focus to traditional minority issues like immigration policy and foreign
aid to the Philippines, we must consider to name a few, the mainstream domestic issues like education
policy, health care and tax reform, and that we have a moral obligation to intermix within the mainstream
society by sharing our experiences, our weaknesses, our strengths to cause a change that will benefit
mankind.”
In 2003, because of her distinguished leadership, dedication, and services to the community, Alaska
Governor Frank Murkowski with his utmost faith and confidence, appointed Ms. Sargento as the
Executive Director of the Alaska State Community Service Commission. This is the governor’s
commission that promotes volunteerism and ethics of service. It oversees and manages the
development of the state system for recruiting and placing participants into national service programs
that receives assistance under national service laws through the Corporation for National and
Community Service.
As the Filipino-American Community in Alaska grew in population of more than 16,000 residents who
share the rich heritage, the community became divided. Ms. Sargento led a group of leaders who
formed an over-arching organization to promote harmony among the Filipinos in 2003. She was the
obvious choice for president. She led the group in rallying the support of 12 of the 15 Filipino
organizations in creating a July 4th Parade float that won the grand champion trophy in 2004 and again
in 2005.
In November 13, 2004, Elsa M. Sargento was inducted into the 2004 Asian Academy Hall of Fame at a
knighting ceremony in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ms. Sargento is the first Alaskan woman and the first
Filipino-American in the state to ever receive this honor. She stood among seven other recipients
selected from across the world to become the newest inductees in to the Asian Academy Hall of Fame.
The Asian Academy Hall of Fame was created to shine the light on outstanding Asians so they may
serve as role models for all the young people of the world. The goal is to bring every diverse Asian
American communities together and pay tribute to those who have made a substantial difference to
their culture and society.
Hard work is the hallmark of Ms. Elsa M. Sargento. She has balanced family and career with community
service work for three decades in Anchorage, Alaska.
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