Gifts at work
2023-2024
Thank you.
Thank you for your support. Your generosity serves students and communities across the state, country and globe.
Explore these pages to see how gifts like yours promote UAF’s teaching, research and public service.
2023-2024 Total Giving: $14,220,374
$2,503,676 in privately funded scholarships
were awarded to 723 students
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the generous scholarship you have awarded me for my studies in digital journalism. Your support means the world to me, and it has had a profound impact on my academic journey and future endeavors. Receiving this scholarship has significantly alleviated the financial stress that often accompanies pursuing a degree, allowing me to focus more on my studies and less on financial worries. Your generosity has not only lightened my financial burden but has also served as a source of motivation and encouragement for me to excel in my field.
This scholarship is allowing me the opportunity to get one step closer to completing a degree and being able to take the tools I learn from UAF out into the world. Balancing classes, work and other responsibilities is challenging, but knowing that I am receiving help through this scholarship allows me to focus less on the stress of tuition and dedicate more time to my studies.
Research Support
Athletics Support
This past year proved to be another incredible year for Alaska Nanooks athletics —
a third-place finish at NCAAs for your Nanook rifle team, a top-10 NCAA finish for
Nordic ski, two conference champions for women’s swimming, the 13th-straight Alaska
Airlines Governors’ Cup series win for Nanooks hockey, and more. All accomplished
in arguably the toughest schedule in NCAA sports. A special thanks to Chancellor White,
President Pitney, UAF administration, and our coaches and staff for their leadership
and vision. The ability to innovate, recruit and develop student-athletes is truly
the cornerstone for our success. An even bigger thank you to our donors, who continued
their unwavering support of Nanook athletics and helped achieve another successful
year in Alaska Nanooks history. Without you, none of this is possible.
— Brock Anundson, Athletics Director
In February 2024, men’s basketball had its first win since 2003 against UAA (65-49). Donations to the team allow student-athletes to receive scholarships and operational support. The team is thankful for additional support to help with team dinners, gear and travel activities.
Women’s basketball saw four student-athletes earn the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Honor: Kayla Johnsen, Emma McKenney, Destiny Reimers and Jayda Van Dyke. During the 2023-2024 season, in addition to scholarships, philanthropic support for the team went toward partnering with nonprofit groups, including the Breast Cancer Detection Center and Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, to help spread awareness at their games. The support also helped the coaches bring recruits to campus and sign for the next season.
The women’s cross-country team saw Kendall Kramer and Rosie Fordham have their third straight NCAA championship appearance and earn All-American finishes in 2023. Kramer claimed the West Region title, putting the women in fifth place. The men’s cross-country team finished 22nd at the NCAA West Regionals.
Thanks to philanthropic support, the men’s and women’s cross-country teams received additional scholarship aid, competition spikes, team dinners and travel backing. Continued support to the teams will go toward team bonding experiences, running gear and other team operations.
The men’s hockey team won the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup series for the 13th straight year in February 2024. The team also claimed third place at the Great Lakes Invitational.
Thanks to philanthropic support, the team received additional travel aid and a boost in scholarship funds. The majority of the team received full or partial scholarships. The operational support allows the team to do several team-bonding activities and receive online tutoring while competing on the road. This included several team dinners, two NHL games and educational experiences. All support to the team helps keep them competitive as they represent UAF in NCAA Division I hockey. Philanthropic support will continue to benefit student-athletes and help keep a strong hockey program.
The rifle team had its third straight podium appearance at the NCAA Rifle Championships, taking home bronze in March 2024. The team had three All-Americans named by the Collegiate Rifles Coaches Association. Support to the team resulted in additional scholarship funds, travel aid, injury-preventative uniforms, and necessary rifle add-ons and maintenance.
The women’s and men’s ski teams won against UAA in the Alaska Nordic Cup for the third straight season in December 2023. In March 2024, the teams placed sixth in the Nordic standings and took ninth place overall while competing at the NCAA Skiing Championships, led by a pair of All-American performances from Kendall Kramer and Mariel Pulles.
Support for the ski team has been tremendous. In addition to scholarships and support for the team’s operation, an effort was launched to begin development on a world-class ski trail that will be located right on campus. Continued support for both teams will allow for their ongoing success and the completion of the ski trails, allowing competitions to be held on campus and making Alaska the place to ski.
The women’s swimming team placed seventh at the 2024 Pacific Coast Swimming and Diving Conference Championships. Student-athlete Charlotte Fletcher-Stables made her NCAA National Championships debut, placing 29th overall.
Philanthropic support for the team went to both scholarships and team operations. The team received gear, such as Nanook-branded Nike shoes and winter jackets. Support also allowed the team to do team-building activities while competing on the road.
The women’s volleyball team had its first time win in 25 years against Western Washington University (3-0). The team also won all three games of the Shaw University Tournament hosted in North Carolina. In the 2023-2024 season, the team also saw six student-athletes earn volleyball Academic All-GNAC Honor, recognizing the team’s high grade point average.
Donations to the volleyball team contributed to scholarship funds, allowing the team to have the support needed to pursue a college athletic career while achieving its academic goals. Operational support to the team also made a difference in acquiring high-quality team gear, dinners and training camps. Support for next season will continue to go toward investing in the team’s academics and athletic performance.
Student Support
The UAF First Gen Support Fund helps UAF celebrate students who are in the first generation of their families to go to college. Students have been directly impacted by scholarships, and funds have been used for recognition ceremonies like UAF’s celebration of the National First-Generation College Student Celebration Day in November and the First-Gen Baccalaureate Cording Ceremony and Trailblazer Recognition Ceremony held each spring.
Student Support Services serves bachelor’s degree seeking students who are low income, are first generation or experience a documented disability. Thanks to the donations from our community, we will be able to award scholarships to students who need additional support to help make ends meet. Some of our focus areas include funding for studying abroad and providing scholarships for students to purchase textbooks and other course materials. In addition, these funds have allowed us to purchase food items for our SSS Food Pantry to support SSS students experiencing food insecurity.
The Student Support Fund assists UAF students in unanticipated or unexpected emergency need. The Student Support Fund has provided funding for emergency situations, including travel for loss and medical expenses, as well as housing and food insecurity. Students are able to connect to one place to review funding and academic advising support opportunities customized to their needs. The funds have been used to keep students enrolled in school by providing basic needs, as well as to lessen the financial burden of withdrawing from school when a break is needed due to an emergency situation. The applications are reviewed by case managers at the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability to ensure quick responses to emerging situations. This fund is a lifeline for students and helps ORCA extend that help when our students are needing it most.
Thank you for making a difference here at UAF.
ĚŔÄ·ĘÓƵ photos by Eric Engman, Leif Van Cise, JR Ancheta and other university affiliates.