A group of miners pose smiling in front of a mine entrance
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Partnering with Juneau’s Metal Mines to Advance Research and Upskill Career Readiness

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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.

Mine workers in the Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine Mine workers in the Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine
Mine workers in the Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine
Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine

"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. Opting for a major in mine mechanics was a natural choice, driven by my enduring interest in mines and a preference for hands-on work. Additionally, I'm keen on building my career right here in Juneau, making this field the perfect fit for my aspirations," said Ethridge.

In March 2024, eight upperclassmen in Environmental Studies embarked on a unique field-study excursion to Hawaii, made possible by the Hecla Greens Creek Environmental Science Endowment. Students gained hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools like drones, field-based GIS mapping technology, and differential GPS surveying while exploring the unique ridge-to-reef ecosystems of the 'Big Island' of Hawaii. 

Funds from the Hecla Greens Creek Environmental Science Endowment also supported student work in Glacier Bay, installing time-lapse cameras. Alongside UAS professor Jason Amundson and a glaciologist from the National Park Service, students also assisted with servicing a Muir Inlet weather station. Funding also allowed a student to attend the recent Northwest Glaciologists Meeting in Seattle.

Student and professor on mining field trip
Two workers talking in an Alaska mine
Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine workers by a stream
Mine worker
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