George Schaller, '55, was awarded the Indianapolis Prize, the world's leading award for animal conservation. The $100,000 award is for heroes of conservation who are working to preserve some of the world’s most endangered animal species.

Joe, '58, and Ann, '57, Tremarello gave $100,000 to create the Joseph Tremarello Sr. and Rose R. Tremarello Memorial Fund, in honor of Joe’s parents, to support student-athletes on the men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams. Joe formerly coached the women’s basketball team, and Ann served as university registrar for nearly 45 years, retiring in 2002.

Sue Klingner, '64 -- "Since leaving the University of Alaska, I have continued to explore the natural world and to express my inner world by writing poetry. There are two new worlds in my life -- my granddaughters, Mira and Ariel. I still love the world of dance. At my niece's wedding reception in October of 2007, she had a dance competition between a couple representing the bride and one representing the groom. She chose me to dance with my nephew the following dances: country-western, salsa, hip-hop and Argentine tango. I'm going to go out of this world kicking up my heels."

Vera Alexander, '65, was honored with the dedication of a new smart classroom at UAF, room 201 in the O'Neill Building on West Ridge, renamed the Vera Alexander Learning Center. After receiving her doctorate in marine science at UA in 1965, Vera became an associate professor at the fledgling Institute of Marine Science on the Fairbanks campus. In 1980, she became the director of IMS. When the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences was formed in 1987, she became its first dean and served for nearly 20 years, until 2004. Vera is a professor emerita and is currently on the advisory board for the UAF Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center. She is also the president of the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States.

Richard Sullivan, '66  -- "Active in community and environmental affairs. In 1970, I went to work at Western Washington State College's Department of Speech as a video technician. Over the years, Western became a university. My job title was a science technician electronics. That was changed to electronic technician III and final job title was biomed electronic tech III. The Deptartment of Speech was split and I went with speech pathology and audiology and I retired after 30 years with the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. In 1971, I married Gail. I have two sons: Sean in 1973 and Kevin in 1977. In 1982, I joined the U.S. Naval Air Reserve, Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Wash. After a break in service of 20 years, I retired with pay: 20 years, two months, 19 days over 43 years. My last cruise was on CVN 70, Carl Vinson with Tactical Electronic Warfare Sq. VAQ 129. Retirement was August 1998. I have two grandsons: Brendan in 2000 and Hadley in 2001. In 2001, I went with Peace Tree Vietnam to Quang Tri for nine days planting trees where land mines used to be and three days in Hanoi."

Deborah Poore, '75 -- "Where does one begin to summarize over 30 years of life? Retired elementary teacher living in Homer, on the bay, raising two sons, loving life and art and all that life continues to offer. Back at work in my mid-50s, learning new skills at computer and telephone. Civil disobedience as crosswalk painters, counter-recruitment activists (the Homer 3); continuing to live life in a conscious and mindful manner: lay Buddhist leader (Floating Leaf Sangha); camping, gardening, reading, writing, traveling, cooking, painting, building. I can see why people sometimes say life is too short. Grateful for all that the UofA/FBX (Fairybags) gave to me and all that I was given by friends along the way. Recognizing mortality and seeing that stories and people slip away to make space for the new stories, the next people."

Steve Haagenson, '76, '81, retired Golden Valley Electric Association president and CEO, received the Mason Lazelle Achievement Award, given to those who have made outstanding contributions to electrification efforts in Alaska. Gov. Sarah Palin also selected him to be her energy coordinator and the executive director for the Alaska Energy Authority.

Brian K. Jones, '76 -- "I married Barbara Happe at the Presbyterian Church in College in 1975. We have three sons. After graduation I worked for big mining companies for a while but it wasn't for me. Too many Republicans. I consulted for 20 years, then retired to teach skiing and play music in Utah. I have recorded several CDs. Clips are available at www.cowgrass.com. I recently accepted a job managing a copper development program in Michoacan, Mexico. Here too I have found a musical outlet and play with a Mexican band. My professional life has been a nice combination of work and hobbies. When the job is done here I look forward to returning to Utah and the relaxed lifestyle of skiing, music and writing."

Perri (Gee) Ekstrand, '85 -- "I graduated from UAF in 1985 with a degree in civil engineering. That same year I married a UAA civil engineering graduate, Roland Ekstrand. We settled in Napa, Calif., and raised two children who are now in college. We really valued the education we received from Alaska. Our diplomas have matched those who have graduated from prestigious colleges like Stanford and U.C. Berkeley. Although we have not been back to Fairbanks, we are often in Anchorage to visit family."

Mary Pate, '85, joined the law firm of Howard & Howard Attorneys as a labor and employment attorney in Kalamazoo, Mich., in May 2008. She is admitted to both the state bar of Michigan and the Alaska bar, in addition to all state and federal courts in Alaska and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Her focus will be mainly in the areas of litigation, labor and employment and construction.

Milton Ludington, '87 -- "My B.S. degree in civil engineering from UAF has allowed me to manage design and construction programs and projects all over the U.S. and the world. My recent three years in Iraq allowed me to lead the programming of $1 billion in Iraqi national transportation and telecommunications projects for the Coalition Provisional Authority and serve as senior project manager for over $100 million in Sadr City sewer repairs with Washington International/Black and Veatch JV, highlighting an eventful and exciting career. After many years I have recently returned to Fairbanks to accept a position with Ageiss Environmental as engineering project manager for the air force at Eielson AFB in connection with an exciting $126 million renovation/new construction project. Thanks, UAF!"

Nora (Garcia) Eckrich, '88 -- "The graduation was a highlight. I had my husband and my daughter attending. I remember being so nervous. I just was so happy to graduate! I soon started my own day care in Anderson, Alaska: Nora's Day-Care. It was fun and lots of work. I got married and had my daughter, Nicole. When Nicole was nine months, I was diagnosed with MS. I am walking, it affects my cognition, memory, etc. I have many friends there in Fairbanks and a few still working at the university. I continue to visit friends in Fairbanks and I guess I will always because Alaska, the university, and friends will always draw me back for the good times. I'm retired. My daughter is in WSU here in Washington. I lost my husband 14 years ago. I am active in church and help out my daughter. I grow a garden every year and give to friends the produce. I love to read the Bible and fellowship in my church."

Bharath Sriraman, '95 -- "Left Fairbanks in December '95 for a Ph.D. in mathematics at Northern Illinois. Got married (to Sabine) when I was in graduate school. Finished my Ph.D. in 2001, defended in 2002, and have been on a tenure track position in the math department at the University of Montana ever since. Got promoted to associate professor a couple of years ago. Have been married for 11 years now, and we have three kids (Sarah, Jacob and Miriam). Here is my webpage www.umt.edu/math/People/Sriraman.html and here are links to the kinds of things that interest me professionally http://www.math.umt.edu/sriraman/presented.html. Page 3 of: www.umt.edu/ip/newsletter/documents/April2007Newsletter.pdf. Drop me a line (if you intersected with me in Fairbanks) at sriramanb@mso.umt.edu or b_sriraman@yahoo.com."

Nevada Bovee, '96 -- "Blessings abound in my life with a new job, happy family, a fabulous trip to France and continuing to help others with neuro-linguistic programming and hypnotherapy. I recently joined the team as marketing manager for the University of Alaska College Savings Plan and the UA Scholars program, and am looking forward to helping families save for future college needs. Having met the challenge with three of our children, I know how important it is. After 30 years, I was reunited with some very good friends from middle school. We all met in France this last May and had a wonderful time together catching up with each other's life experiences. I continue to study neuro-linguistic programming and recently received the associate trainer certification to add to my master practitioner certificate. It is great to apply some of the learning to the public relations class I am teaching at the Tanana Valley Campus. Life is good and being part of the UAF alumni is great!"

Holly Costa, '01, '02, was recognized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the 2007 District Employee of the Year. Holly has been employed by the USACE since 2001 and has been the regulatory project manager in the San Francisco district since 2003.

Suzanne Evans, '01 -- "Since I graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I started teaching art classes with the University of Alaska through Chukchi Campus and UAF in Fairbanks, Alaska. I also worked as a counselor counseling individuals throughout the state of Alaska that had substance abuse issues. I enjoy working with others and hope to work for a law office someday in the future! In 2001 I brought Irene Bedard cast and crew to Kotzebue, Alaska, from L.A., California, to perform for the community. It was a memorable moment to see her again. She encouraged young high school students to attend college after high school and that they can achieve their dream of what they want to be in the future. I did research on my family tree and found out that John Stockton, former famous Utah Jazz player and I have the same uncle -- Uncle Leroy Evans. My uncle, Leroy John Evans of Salt Lake City, Utah, helped me with my family tree and it was so awesome! I sure enjoyed looking at the pictures from the 1800s. They were pretty interesting! It was heartwarming to speak with Leroy over the phone about the Evans family tree! I love him dearly and thank him for his contributions as well as mine! I was happy to learn that the Evans family came from London, England, Wales and Ireland we are part Irish. I encourage all of the young people to study their family tree! It's interesting!"

Jamie Barger, '02 -- "After completing my Ph.D. at UAF, where I studied the regulation of metabolism during hibernation, my family and I moved to Madison, Wisc., so I could be a postdoc with Dr. Richard Weindruch at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There I investigated the bioactivity of adipose tissue in mice and rhesus monkeys on calorie-restricted diets. I joined LifeGen Technologies in 2005 and serve as their head of project management. Recently I was lead author on a peer-reviewed publication about our team's investigation of the effects of resveratrol, a chemical found in red wine, on the aging process. The study has made international news, including The New York Times, Wine Spectator magazine, BBC News and Jay Leno's monologue on The Tonight Show."

Lillian Osborne Crosson Frizzell, Matric., celebrated her 100th birthday on March 19, 2008, in Stanwood, Wash.

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