The Captain Michael A. Clinkscales Maritime Scholarship Endowment was established to provide funds for students to complete coursework needed for careers in the maritime industry. The Maritime Center, located in Ketchikan, offers a variety of programs and courses that equip students for careers in maritime trades. Marine Transportation is one such avenue in which students can choose to pursue an Associate of Applied Science two-year degree or an Occupational Endorsement track. The curriculum, approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, offers hands-on waterfront and sea time experience to improve vessel operation and navigation skills.
The memorial scholarship, which began awarding in 2022, honors former sea pilot Mike “Clink” Clinkscales. Fellow sea pilots championed fundraising efforts to create the endowment, raising more than $38,000. “Clink” was known for his generosity and mentored other sea pilots and fishermen, several of whom noted that the scholarship was a perfect way to pay forward his encouragement to the next generation of marine transportation employees. His wife, Cynthia, shared with UAS that “he worked his way up from pot-washer to captain. It would be great for students to see that if they work hard and have the resources, they can get there, too.”
Students in the UAS Maritime training simulator
The growing tourism industry, particularly in the scenic Inside Passage, has led to an increased demand for sea pilots. Many of Clinkscales’ sea pilot friends, even those who have retired, have expressed their hope that the scholarship will pave the way for aspiring sea pilots.
According to Mike LaBarge, UAS assistant professor of maritime studies, students who complete the training can secure jobs swiftly in tourism or other sectors such as commercial fishing or on tugboats. The comprehensive instruction and hands-on training at the Maritime Center prepare students for real-life scenarios. LaBarge further emphasized, “We are committed to providing a pathway for individuals who want to work on the water and also supporting those who are already part of this dynamic industry.”
“Clink” and his sea pilot friends serve as a motivational example and have provided encouragement for the next generation of employees—and future maritime workforce.
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Preparing Students to Meet Increasing Global Demand for Aquaculture and Mariculture Careers
Thanks in part to dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students across Alaska, enrollment in University of Alaska Southeast's Applied Fisheries is at its strongest. The At-sea Processors Association provides scholarships to help high school students explore potential careers and complete the Fisheries Technology Occupational Endorsement in Fisheries Management and other college-credit courses at UAS. APA’s generosity has been instrumental in the success of Applied Fisheries’ dual-enrollment program, with nearly 300 UAS students benefiting from APA’s support to date. The University of Alaska Fairbanks also significantly benefits from APA’s contributions in support of research.
At-sea Processors Association is a trade association of five member companies that own and operate catcher/processor vessels and are committed to minimizing fishing impacts on the environment. They work with fishery managers, scientists, environmentalists, and other industries to achieve this outcome. As donors to both UAS and UAF, members of APA have advocated for and utilized the Education Tax Credit program in Alaska.
The Education Tax Credit program, first established in 1987 by the Legislature, encourages private businesses to make charitable contributions to support schools in Alaska. This has resulted in highly effective partnerships between businesses, the university, and the state - leading to charitable contributions toward student scholarships, research, centers of excellence, facilities and much more.
Stephanie Madsen, executive director of APA and a member of the UA Foundation Board of Directors, regularly advocates for the ETC, once saying, “Since 2000, this program has allowed the members of APA to invest in programs ranging from undergraduate and graduate fellowships, to research addressing current fishery management concerns, to technical training for youth.”
With extensive coastline, waters, and marine resources, Alaska requires a range of associated professionals. University of Alaska Southeast’s Applied Fisheries program offers numerous fields of study designed to prepare students for careers in various industries. Students can choose between occupational endorsement, certification, and degree-track options in the program, which is located at the UAS Sitka campus.
Partnering with Juneau’s Metal Mines to Advance Research and Upskill Career Readiness
The mineral endowment of Southeast Alaska supports Juneau’s underground metal mines, the Greens Creek Mine and Kensington Mine, which in turn support University of Alaska Southeast’s environmental science and workforce development programs. Mine owners Hecla Greens Creek Company and Coeur Alaska, Inc., have provided cumulative support reaching over $1 million from each company. These partnerships, directly connected to areas of UAS’ academic and research focus, have benefitted hundreds of students and grown a local workforce prepared for the modern environmental science and natural resource sectors.
Coeur Alaska, Inc., the owner and operator of Kensington Mine, established the Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine Environmental Science Award at UAS over 30 years ago. Thanks to Coeur Alaska's continued generosity to grow the endowment, with a total of $600,000 gifted between 2020-2021, the minimum award amount has increased to $3,000 per student. All Alaska residents in Environmental Science, Environmental Resources, and Marine Biology majors at UAS are eligible to apply, with preference given to full-time Southeast Alaska residents.
In 2022, Hecla Greens Creek donated $300,000 to create the Hecla Greens Creek Environmental Science Endowment, which supports faculty and undergraduate research and substantially supports student learning opportunities through internships and field courses. Additionally, the UAS Center for Mine Training benefits from Hecla Greens Creek's support.
“Receiving this scholarship has been a game-changer for me, allowing me to focus solely on my education without the added pressure of working concurrently."
Students enrolled in the Applied Associate of Science or Occupational Endorsement Power Technology certificate program, with an emphasis in Mine Mechanics, can apply for the Hecla Greens Creek Mine Mechanic Scholarship. More than 200 students have benefited from the scholarship over the past 14 years, including Ben Etheridge. A native of Juneau, Etheridge aims to graduate in spring 2025 and is currently gaining hands-on experience working as a summer intern in the Maintenance Department at the Greens Creek Mine.
Urgent Need for a Construction Workforce Bridges Industry and the University
Skilled construction workers are critical to building and maintaining Alaska’s infrastructure and there is a tremendous need for professionals in this area – both now and into the future. “As a long-time industry leader, donor, and University of Alaska Foundation board member, I’m concerned about the extreme shortage of workforce for construction management in Alaska,” wrote Meg Nordale, president of GHEMM Company, Inc. and current chair of the University of Alaska Foundation’s Board of Directors. In 2022 when Nordale shared this concern, she envisioned further partnership with the university “to develop a plan to address Alaska’s Construction Management workforce needs.”
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney also recognized the importance and necessity of training and growing Alaska’s workforce. Together, Pitney and Nordale built a team to address the Construction Management Workforce Initiative. Nordale became the facilitator of the initiative’s committee, composed of construction industry representatives, community members, and UA employees – with representation from each of the construction programs at UAF, UAA, and UAS.
Dedicated to addressing Alaska's extreme shortage of construction workforce, the committee focused on remedies to overcome the labor shortage: boosting awareness of related career pathways, increasing enrollment and program accessibility for traditional and non-traditional students, further aligning programs, and strengthening program resources to provide students with job-skill readiness.
To kick off this initiative, longtime donors and UA advocates Helga and Bill Watterson '64, who earned his B.S. in civil engineering from UAF, contributed $50,000 and challenged the construction industry to meet/exceed their generous contribution. As an employer, Watterson Construction Company values UA’s graduates and boasts an average tenure of 14 years within the company, emphasizing that UA graduates are more likely to stay in Alaska. Over the course of two years, nearly $900,000 was invested to support this initiative. Industry and individual donors contributed $492,000 in new dollars and internship support, while President Pitney directly committed $400,000 in university funds to this important priority.
Industry members came together to advocate for Alaska’s construction workforce needs and, in turn, the university's programs collaborated to increase capacity and the number of graduates entering the workforce. These efforts resulted in significant enrollment increases in construction programs at UAA, UAF and UAS over the past year.
Furthermore, with Associated General Contractors of Alaska (AGC)’s leadership gift of $200,000 in July 2024, a new endowment has been established which will provide essential funding for construction programs across the state in perpetuity. Reaching this ambitious milestone wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the generosity of individual donors and industry partners.
Reflecting on the momentum generated by this initiative, AGC Executive Director Alicia Amberg said, “The Construction Management Initiative brought the university alongside the industry to address a significant workforce shortage that will impact all Alaskans. Our ability to partner alongside the university has strengthened relationships and, as we celebrate this success, we look forward to this endowment making an impact into the future.”
AGC has supported engineering and construction programs at UA for twenty years, giving more than half a million dollars to programs at UAA, UAF and UAS. The new endowment ensures support that will extend in perpetuity.
Celebrating ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Impact on STEM in Alaska
As one of the largest donors to the For Alaska campaign and notably established as the University of Alaska’s single largest philanthropic contributor – ConocoPhillips Alaska has given nearly $46 million over more than four decades, uplifting a broad array of programs throughout the state. Additionally, ConocoPhillips Alaska employees have given UA the gift of their time, serving in critical advisory, mentorship and leadership roles.
"ConocoPhillips Alaska values our longstanding relationship with UA,” shared Stephanie Erickson, ConocoPhillips Alaska Prudhoe Bay area manager and member of the UA Foundation Board of Directors. “By empowering students to solve real-world problems, together, we strengthen our workforce, our economy and our communities. We are proud to have so many graduates become our employees through the University of Alaska’s education-to-workforce programs."
Students who have benefited from ConocoPhillips Alaska’s generosity are now industry workers, critical thinkers and leaders in a wide range of professions. In addition to supporting engineering, geology and mining at both universities, ConocoPhillips Alaska also supports tomorrow's future workforce by investing in bridging programs, including Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) and GeoFORCE Alaska at UAF and the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) at UAA.
“By empowering students to solve real-world problems, together, we strengthen our workforce, our economy and our communities. We are proud to have so many graduates become our employees through the University of Alaska’s education-to-workforce programs."
ANSEP aims to foster success for Alaska Native students in science and engineering and provides a continuum of support from kindergarten through graduate school. This comprehensive approach ensures that students receive consistent guidance and opportunities at every academic level.
“ConocoPhillips Alaska has been a long-term ANSEP strategic partner that has helped grow our longitudinal program from kindergarten to the Ph.D. while also being a generous matching partner for our ANSEP Alumni Scholarship Fundraiser,” said Matt Calhoun, executive director for ANSEP.
ConocoPhillips Alaska also supports STEM education and experiences for youth through their steadfast support of UAA’s Summer Engineering Academies, UAF Science Olympiad and the UAF Engineering Open House. Throughout the years, they have made a difference in a diverse range of departments, programs and areas – from athletics to culinary arts, finance, equipment and facilities, and more.
“You are truly helping the future of Alaska and there are few worthier investments,” RAHI 2018 graduate Olivia Carroll said, “We all appreciate your generosity and service to Alaska.”
First National Bank Alaska Finance Lab Equips Students to Excel in the Field of Finance
The University of Alaska Anchorage’s College of Business and Public Policy has become a finance education hub. What began as a vision has become a reality thanks to generous philanthropic support. As visitors enter the building, they are met by an impressive stock ticker in the lobby, and on the second floor, eyes are drawn to the frosted glass windows of the First National Bank Alaska Finance Lab. The state-of-the-art lab provides students with access to industry data sources and software and serves as a space for students involved with the Seawolf Investment Fund to make decisions.
After nearly half a century of giving to UA, First National Bank Alaska chose to make a special gift of just under $500,000 during the For Alaska campaign to position CBPP as a finance education center. The gift established UAA’s First National Bank Alaska Finance Lab, which opened in the fall of 2023 and will serve as a conduit for the state with the vision of interfacing UAA, UAF and UAS business students with access to classes as well as guest lectures.
“For the past century, our bank and the University of Alaska have shared a commitment to serving Alaskans," said Betsy Lawer, board chair, president and CEO of First National Bank Alaska. "My father would take great delight in knowing that this Finance Lab will provide a learning space for students to experience hands-on-opportunities before they enter our workforce. It’s our honor to invest in the university’s focus on producing skilled graduates who are well-prepared to meet Alaska’s workforce demands and become tomorrow’s leaders."
