William R. "Bill" Cashen '37 was a former alumni director, professor, and marshal emeritus, historian, public servant, family man, proud alumnus and friend to many Alumni. Cashen set the example for service to the university and its alumni association. This award is designed to recognize and perpetuate his example and inspire all those associated with the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Eligibility: Alumni and non alumni qualify for the award. Only employees of the UAF Alumni Association are excluded.

Criteria for Selection: Nominees will be judged on the basis of meritorious service at more than one level of alumni activity. This could include, but is not limited to, serving as a chapter officer, serving on the board of directors, assisting with a project, setting up a scholarship, serving on a UAF selection committee or an advisory council.

Born and raised in Virginia, Barbara Day arrived in Fairbanks in October 2001 with her husband, Jim Dixon. She found a job with the UAF Physics Department and currently works as the administrative assistant for the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. Her involvement with the UAF Alumni Association started the minute her husband began serving on the board for the Fairbanks Chapter seven years ago. She has been a valuable member of the team that runs the UAF Alumni Burger Booth at the Fair and has a long association with many of the activities that UAFAA participates in, including Grad Bash, serving cake at the spring commencement reception and UAF Day at the Alaska Goldpanners baseball game among others.

The Alumni Association is a beneficiary of Barbara’s hard work, but not the only university activity she participates in. Barbara is two years into her second tenure as the treasurer for the University Women’s Association, a position she held for about four years before a two-year break. She looks forward each October to answering telephones for KUAC's annual fundraising. Her favorite community volunteer event is spending Tuesday afternoons at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, helping prepare bags of food for distribution to needy Fairbanks residents.