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.
No items found.
Click thumbnail to view full image
No items found.
Click thumbnail to view full image
related stories
Read more UAS stories
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.
Joining Together to Change the Lives of Nursing Students
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.
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.
Major Investment Advances Research Economic/Fiscal Policy Research and Expands Business Education
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.
