Stories of
impact

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.”

Two successful University of Alaska Anchorage engineering graduates, Jan van den Top, ’72, and Ted Trueblood, ’80, have each created endowments for UAA's College of Engineering, providing perpetual funding to ensure the college's and its students' success.

Jan van den Top, a mechanical engineer, received his master's degree from UAA while employed by a local engineering firm. He has made significant investments in UAA over the years, sharing, "When I first came to Alaska, the UAA community was such a great help for me. It was really influential for my career. Now, I want to do my part to provide the tools that UAA needs to be successful." 

Originally from the Netherlands, van den Top's philosophy of providing people with the tools they need for success stems from his experiences in Kenya while working with the Netherlands Volunteer Organization. He and his wife Jeri  later settled in Alaska, where her parents lived. He built and operated a successful mechanical contracting firm, The Superior Group Inc., for over 40 years and has now retired. 

“Now, I want to do my part to provide the tools that UAA needs to be successful.”

Van den Top's endowment supports UAA's mechanical engineering program, ensuring it remains at the forefront of teaching and research. The college renamed the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Lab in his honor. Additionally, The Superior Group Inc., now employee-owned thanks to van den Top's efforts, established a scholarship for engineering students in his honor.

Ted Trueblood, who used his money from the GI Bill to earn a master's degree in civil engineering from UAA, has had a distinguished career in engineering. A decorated military veteran, he worked with the Alaska Railroad before becoming CEO of Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc., an Anchorage engineering firm. Trueblood and his wife, Gloria, have been loyal donors to UAA for nearly three decades and are strong advocates for education. "Education is paramount," said Trueblood. "From my perspective, you can't start cutting class sizes and offerings without thinking about how it impacts the rest of the state, the public and the consumers of our products."

Together, they established the Ted and Gloria Trueblood Endowment to support Arctic engineering research, provide scholarship awards for graduate students and help students prepare for engineering licensure exams. The college named the Ted and Gloria Trueblood Cold Regions Engineering lab to honor the couple's generosity.

Through their accomplishments, van den Top and Trueblood demonstrate the value of  engineering education from UAA and exemplify the impact of philanthropy, ensuring future generations of engineering students have the resources they need to succeed.

As the northernmost research university in the nation, the University of Alaska Fairbanks is at the forefront of climate change research, a commitment that is evident throughout many areas. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is pioneering a new path with the Climate Scholars Program, a unique initiative housed in the Honors College. The first of its kind in Alaska and the United States, the program stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, bridging the arts, humanities, and sciences. And it captures the attention of more than just prospective students.

University of Alaska Fairbanks alum Linda Schandelmeier '71 serves on the program’s advisory council. She and her husband, John Davies '70, '75, who also served as a UA Regent (2015-2023), established a scholarship to support students in the program. Their reasoning, as Schandelmeier explained, was the belief that “the incredible students in this program will become leaders in developing innovative solutions to address climate change. They are motivated and driven to create the change our world needs right now. I feel like I am doing a small part to address the climate crisis and am grateful that we have teachers and students doing real work to that end.” 

Davies noted, “It feels good to be able to give back to a school that has given so much to us, we are excited to be able to help support students who are also focused on a wide range of climate issues, including food security, because we see these students as future game-changers in addressing this existential threat to our world.”

The program offers undergraduate students experiential learning opportunities focused on climate change, many of which take place outside of the traditional classroom. For instance, Climate Scholars have conducted studies at the Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research site or participated in NASA’s eclipse-tracking balloon project. Connecting students with leading research experts prepares Climate Scholars for in-demand careers in climate change, from clean energy development, to policy making, to advocacy and education.

Of all the challenges facing humanity and the world, rapid environmental change has the attention of today’s students. The fast-growing program at UAF has nearly 300 participants and is expected to eventually reach 1,000. 

University of Alaska Fairbanks Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Anupma Prakash said the gifts from Schandelmeier, Davies and other program donors have been awe-inspiring. “Saying that we are grateful doesn't completely cover it. It is meaningful to know that what we’re doing is inspiring people who care about students to give back in this way.”

The success of the Climate Scholars Program is not solely measured by its rapid growth. Prakash said it’s also reflected in the students leaving with the feeling that they have the skills and opportunities they need in order to make a meaningful difference.

Photo courtesy Dirk Rohrbach

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.

A proponent of research, Richard Nyman was known for his integrity, generosity and kindness. Originally from Michigan, Nyman was a long-time Alaskan. He knew the work being done at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Institute of Northern Engineering was critical to Alaskan industries and often spoke fondly with his wife, UAA alumna Jan Blanchard ’93, of his UAF memories. 

Nyman’s remarkable journey included studying mining briefly at UAF in the 1950s. After working in heavy equipment and contributing to the construction of ice roads across the North Slope, he founded Nyman Equipment and was considered a leading contractor for the seismic oil exploration on the North Slope.

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.”

Alumni, community partners and friends help make the University of Alaska the vibrant institution it is. 

“Northrim Bank’s dedication to Alaska is evident in its extensive engagement with the university,” said Tlisa Northcutt, interim president of the University of Alaska Foundation. “In addition to their generous financial contributions, we have benefited greatly from the active involvement of the bank’s leaders and employees on advisory and alumni boards, as well as the foundation board.” Northrim Bank is among many businesses statewide that employ UA alumni. 

A steadfast supporter of the University of Alaska system, Northrim Bank’s annual giving to UAA, UAF and UAS also includes funding for six community campuses where Northrim employees live and work: Sitka Campus (UAS), Ketchikan Campus (UAS), Kodiak College (UAA), Mat-Su College (UAA), Kenai Peninsula College (UAA) and Northwest Campus in Nome (UAF). Northrim Bank has two endowed scholarships at UA: one in memory of Chris Knudson, a founding executive, and one in honor of Northrim’s founder, Marc Langland.

In addition, Northrim Bank chose to provide a special For Alaska campaign gift of $150,000 to fund areas of UA that advance research on Alaska’s economy and fiscal policy, expand business education and build entrepreneurship capacity through the UAA College of Business and Public Policy Excellence Fund and the UAF College of Business and Security Management Student Support Fund. 

“Northrim Bank’s dedication to Alaska is evident in its extensive engagement with the university.”

Expressing gratitude, University of Alaska President Pat Pitney recognizes that Northrim Bank has been a dedicated partner for more than three decades with the UA system, investing in business education across each of the universities. “Private philanthropy is essential for the UA system to meet its mission, and Northrim’s strategic generosity has yielded educational excellence, scholarships and opportunities for students to study while staying close to home,” President Pitney said.

Relationships such as the one between UA and Northrim Bank demonstrate a “connection between the research, technical support and education provided by the University of Alaska system and the economic future of our state,” said Joe Schierhorn, chairman of Northrim Bank. “Higher education is the backbone of a strong community and Northrim is proud to support the work of the University of Alaska.”

"Growing up, my family was lower-middle class. I knew that if I wanted to go to college I would need to earn a scholarship unless I wanted to spend a very long time in debt the way my parents had to,” said Victoria Dugan, ’26, who is studying finance. Opportunities like those provided by Northrim make an incredible difference for students and future economic leaders.

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."

Alaska Native artist Ronald Senungetuk was a sculptor, silversmith and woodcarver of international acclaim. Born in the village of Wales, Senungetuk began his career at the University of Alaska Fairbanks as an art professor in the early 1960s. In 1965, he established the Alaska Native Arts program and became the director of the Native Arts Center. In 1977, he was promoted to chair of UAF's Department of Art, a position he would retain until retiring in 1986. UAF paid tribute to the impact of Senungetuk and his career by honoring him with emeritus status upon his retirement and with an honorary doctorate of fine arts in 2015. In 2020, he passed away at the age of 86.

The Ron Senungetuk Art Endowed Scholarship was established by Turid Senungetuk and the family to honor her husband's legacy at UAF. The scholarship supports undergraduate or graduate students with a concentration in Native Art. UAF, a pioneer in Native Arts education, offers a Master of Fine Arts degree in Native Arts, a distinction shared by only a few universities in the U.S. It is also the sole school in Alaska to offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in this field.

The Native Arts Center provides a forum for visiting Alaska Native artists and offers studio space equipped with Indigenous and contemporary tools. Senungetuk was a world-renowned artist but considered the Center one of his most outstanding achievements. Since its inception, the Center has been instrumental in paving the way for higher education for rural Alaska Native artists.

Current Department Chair and Professor of Native Art, Da-ka-xeen Mehner, greatly appreciates the Senungetuk family's generosity in supporting students. Financial support makes a lasting impact, enabling students to further their education and craft. Mehner noted how forward-thinking it was for the family to not restrict the scholarship to Native Art majors, but to open it to students with a concentration in Native Art.

The Ron Senungetuk Art Endowed Scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2023-24. The inaugural recipient was Christopher Ehlers. Ehlers developed his passion for wood carving after taking Native Art classes at UAF. Ehlers’ work is highlighted in these images.

Denise Wartes served as a pillar for the Rural Alaska Honors Institute for 33 years, first as an assistant and then as the program manager until her retirement in 2019. A very passionate advocate, Wartes started with RAHI in 1989, six years after its inception, and saw multiple generations of lives changed through the 6-week program that welcomes rural and Alaska Native students to attend a college preparation program on the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Troth Yeddha’ Campus.

The Rural Alaska Honors Institute fosters student success, providing youth with an experience that blends academia, community involvement, outdoor recreation, and preparation for the transition between rural high schools and urban colleges. Each cohort typically brings together 50 students from across rural Alaska in the summer following their junior or senior year of high school. Students get a headstart of up to 10 credits over six weeks in subjects that have historically included Indigenous Cultures of Alaska, biomedical research, math, process technology, writing and more.

The Rural Alaska Honors Institute depends on private support and partnerships, with about sixty-percent of program expenses funded by outside donors – including individuals, Alaska Native Corporations and industry partners. Recognizing this, Wartes, together with her late husband, Mark, established The Denise and Mark Wartes Rural Alaska Honors Institute Endowment, which is the only endowment dedicated to RAHI. The endowment primarily supports scholarships and also allows for flexible spending; it can provide direct program support when not used for scholarships. Wartes intentionally made that decision, wanting the fund to be as open as possible to meet the program's critical needs. 

Caroline "Carrie" E.B. Lewis had a deep connection to Alaska, having made it her home since the early 1960s after a single visit to the state. A graduate of Tufts University, she was trained as a medical tech. An avid alpine skier, she bragged that she was one of the first outsiders to ski at Alyeska, later joining the ski patrol. Despite her modest lifestyle, Lewis was a generous philanthropist, primarily supporting education and health care initiatives. Her motivation was clear: she was driven by a desire to support Alaskans, make education attainable and ultimately improve the quality of life for her fellow Alaskans.

In 2022, with an initial planning gift of $250,000, the Rasmuson Foundation supported the vision and design of the University of Alaska’s Arctic Leadership Initiative. Recently, they announced a $5 million gift to help launch the initiative. 

“It’s an ambitious strategic endeavor intended to reshape Alaska’s role in the Arctic and make significant contributions to people living in the Arctic region,” said Tasha Pineda, vice president of strategy for Rasmuson Foundation. “As residents of our nation’s only Arctic state, younger Alaskans are uniquely positioned to lead into the future. This funding will accelerate the development of solutions, innovations, and new economic opportunities for Alaskans across the state.”  

For decades, the Rasmuson Foundation has been an early catalyst and investor in big ideas at the University of Alaska. We are grateful for their steadfast support, including being one of the largest donors to the For Alaska campaign.

Learn more at about the UA Arctic Leadership Initiative.

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.

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Health care in Alaska is at a critical crossroads, with increasing demands and staffing challenges for health providers. Prior to current-day circumstances, faculty members Tina DeLapp, Judy Petersen and Patti Hong knew firsthand that students often leave school due to financial constraints and the demands of balancing work, school and family. Recognizing the ongoing need for health care in Alaska, but also for scholarship support, they came together in 1997 to establish what is now called the Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The three women initiated a fundraising drive in 2018, and thanks to numerous donors, including a significant gift from the Alaska Kidney Foundation, the scholarship was permanently endowed. By 2020, the fund was providing one $1,000 scholarship annually. Another fundraising drive was launched with the goal of being able to provide ten $1,000 scholarships by 2025. They reached their goal in 2023.

The scarcity of nurses often necessitates hiring travel nurses, a costly short-term solution that escalates health care expenses in the long run. To help bridge the gap and meet the growing demand for skilled nurses, the University of Alaska Anchorage offers two undergraduate nursing programs (A.A.S., B.S.N.) and three graduate degrees (M.S., G.C., D.N.P.). The various UAA nursing degree programs are offered in 15 locations across the state.

For Ellie Smardo, the scholarship was a lifeline during a period of financial difficulty. 

“I had a huge sense of gratitude for the opportunity to be in school and achieve my long-held goal of becoming a nurse,” Smardo said. Smardo was the first recipient of the UAA School of Nursing Endowed Scholarship in 2019-20. “When you invest in good nurses, you’re directly investing in the community.” Her statement underscores the heightened importance of health care and nursing that became more visible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raina Bjerke, a 2022-23 recipient of the scholarship and an Alaska Native, decided to pursue nursing during the pandemic when she was laid off from her work. 

“I enjoy patient care and am able to carry my compassion and empathy into rooms where people need it most,” she said. “I love Alaska and plan to remain in the state. I was raised in a small village and know firsthand the need for rural care while maintaining cultural compassion and awareness.”

Joseph Sadley received the scholarship in 2021-22 and is grateful for the support from donors. The scholarship allowed him to continue supporting his family while working part-time and completing his coursework.  

“The Endowed Nursing Scholarship provides someone the opportunity to have a little piece of mind, enabling focused study,” Sadley said. “Thank you so much for your generosity. It has made a difference for my family and me. I will aim to extend that generosity through service and contribution.”

Established almost 30 years ago, DeLapp, Petersen and Hong paved the way for student support and retention of health care workers in Alaska. These visionaries, with the help of other generous donors along the way, demonstrate what it looks like to make a life-changing difference not only for students, but for health care provided to Alaskans. 

The University of Alaska Museum of the North attracts more than 85,000 visitors annually. UAMN’s mission combines research and teaching, and it boasts one of the largest marine mammal collections in the world, even larger than the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History. 

This is a story of a long-standing vision, starting with a bowhead whale that was harvested in Utqiaġvik in 1963. Its skeleton was subsequently donated to the museum and its skull  put on display in the museum's Gallery of Alaska in 1984. Displaying the entire articulated skeleton had long been a museum goal. Ultimately, it was made possible thanks to a significant gift from the Bill Stroecker Foundation in 2018. 

Stroecker, a Fairbanks local who passed away in 2010, ardently supported the University of Alaska Fairbanks and UAMN. The foundation he established through his estate gifted nearly $1M to the museum, allowing the meticulous bone-by-bone cleaning and restoration of the skeleton to begin in 2020. The 42-foot skeleton, which is the length of a bowling lane and weighs close to one ton, also required structural modifications to the ceiling of the museum's lobby. Mounting the skeleton to the steel armature and suspending it from the lobby ceiling took months of work, culminating in the grand opening in June, 2021.

"Bill Stroecker cared passionately about Fairbanks and the things that brought our community together," said UAF Chancellor Dan White. "The Stroecker Foundation made the bowhead whale display in the UAMN possible, and now the whale has become a centerpiece for the museum that meets Bill's vision for lifting up our community. I am so grateful for the Stroecker Foundation's continued support of UAF."

Museum Director Patrick Druckenmiller emphasized the uniqueness of the exhibit saying, "a single gift from the Bill Stroecker Foundation made possible the most jaw-dropping exhibit in the museum: a fully articulated bowhead whale skeleton suspended from the museum atrium, the only display of its kind in North America. When visitors first enter the museum, they are immediately greeted and awed by the size and beauty of this specimen."

Thanks to its placement in the multi-story lobby, visitors to the museum can view the skeleton from above, below, and from the right side. The skeleton is accompanied by interpretive panels that emphasize the important role bowhead whales play in both Alaska Native culture and marine ecosystems.

"This gift exemplifies alignment between a donor's vision and the museum's goals, creating a truly win-win relationship for all."

Druckenmiller delved into the significance of the bowhead whale, sharing that "bowhead whales are denizens of the Arctic Ocean and are a keystone species of marine ecosystems. They are equally important to the spiritual and cultural health of Inupiat people, who rely on bowheads as a critical food resource. The goal of this exhibit is to highlight the connections between the natural and cultural significance of this remarkable species in a singular, captivating exhibit. It is highlighted in Family Day events, in docent-led school tours, and adult education offerings. It is also seen by visitors from all corners of the globe, most of whom will never visit the Arctic to see the animal in its natural setting."

Druckenmiller added, "Philanthropic giving is central to our museum's success, and the Bill Stroecker Foundation gift highlights how generosity is converted into impact. In many instances, private giving makes possible exhibits and programming that are otherwise very difficult to fund through conventional sources. This gift exemplifies alignment between a donor's vision and the museum's goals, creating a truly win-win relationship for all."

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.