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.
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.”
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.
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.
A Decade of Impact: How Generosity is Fueling Research and Industry in Alaska
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.
Bringing a Vision to Life: the UA Museum of the North Bowhead Whale
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."
The UAF Climate Scholars Program: Where Creativity and Science Meet to Save the Planet
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.
