Bill and Betsy Robertson met in the Bunnell Building on the UAF campus in 1965 while attending classes.Bill has played many roles in the Fairbanks community since then, as President/CEO of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, and before that as a 33-year employee of the Federal Bureau of Land Management, for many years as their spokesperson. Betsy came to Fairbanks from New York and worked for 30 years as a research associate in the UAF Institute of Marine Science.They have dedicated many hours to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, as members of the College of Fellows, as volunteers for the UA Museum of the North expansion campaign and the Georgeson Botanical Garden, and recently through the Rotary Club of Fairbanks as advocates and
donors in supporting the Dorothy Sugg Rotary Scholarship fund raising effort. They have been donors since 1975, when they gave to the Bob Johnson Aviation Memorial fund. Throughout the ensuing 36 years, they have supported many projects and programs at UAF, always with a focus on students. In 2011 they established the William J. and Betsy R. Robertson Scholarship, which supports undergraduate students with excellent academic standing. Their membership in the Legacy Society demonstrates their wish to continue to support UAF far into the future. Bill and Betsy epitomize what it means to be a “philanthropist” — their quiet contributions to, and steadfast support of, UAF have had a dramatic impact on the lives of many students. To watch the interview with the Robertson's, click the photo above or watch the video here.

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital has been a philanthropic leader among local institutions since 1968 when the Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation, led by then-UA-President William R. Wood, raised the funds to open a hospital in the growing town. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (FMH) has served the community since then, and takes the long-term view of philanthropy. The non-profit organization’s generosity has been directed  to many areas at UAF, including the Culinary Arts Program, and major expansions of the Community and Technical College Radiological Technology and Allied Health programs. The hospital’s gifts to UAF range well outside the health care field, however, and have included scholarships for undergraduates, support of the Nanook Club, the Alaska Science Research Academy (for high school students) and KUAC. Training young people for the health care field, whether as a nurses’ aide, a radiologic technologist or a phlebotomist, has boosted the Fairbanks economy and put countless young people to work in our community. A strong institution is as strong as its leadership, and FMH has been fortunate. Mike Powers, CEO since 1995 and a Fairbanks resident since 1986, not only leads his hospital well, but is deeply involved in the community. His service on the UA Foundation Board of Trustees, and now as a member of the Board of Regents for the University of Alaska, means we at UAF have had the benefit of his wisdom and commitment to higher education. UAF is proud of our enduring partnership with the hospital, which benefits our community in many ways, and we are grateful for the leadership of CEO Mike Powers. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital’s service to the community, and to the state of Alaska, is a powerful model for the impact a business can have on the programs to which it is dedicated. To see Mike Powers' interview, click the logo above or view here.

Rasmuson Foundation was founded by Jenny Rasmuson in 1955 in memory of her husband, and its inception shares history with UAF. Days before the Alaska Constitutional Convention met in Signer’s Hall, Rasmuson Foundation was having its first meeting just down the hill in College. Fast forward 56 years to a mature foundation that contributes funds, expertise and knowledge to organizations and individuals in Alaska. The foundation continues to inspire a “culture of giving” throughout the state, evident in this year’s record support of nonprofit organizations through the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend’s awardwinning Pick.Click.Give. program, established by the foundation, led by President Diane Kaplan. The annual Rasmuson Educational Tour of Alaska for Grantmakers brings representatives from some of the country’s most prominent foundations to Alaska to witness first-hand the challenges of our residents and nonprofit organizations. Over the years, UAF has been the proud recipient of the generosity of the foundation, and of the family who founded it. Elmer Rasmuson, awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from UAF in 1970, supported the UA Museum of the North’s expansion campaign with the largest single gift for the project. His generosity is also remembered in his gifts to the Elmer E. Rasmuson and BioSciences Libraries and to the Rasmuson Fisheries Research Center at the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. His widow, Mary Louise, continues to contribute to this important effort. Ed Rasmuson, Jenny’s grandson and Elmer’s son, continues the family’s engagement with UAF as Chair of the UAF Fisheries Excellence Committee and is a member of the Fisheries Research Center advisory board. The Rasmuson family and Rasmuson Foundation have, as their mission states, truly been a catalyst for philanthropic giving in Alaska. To view the interview with Ed Rasmuson, Chairman of the Board of Rasmuson Foundation, click on the logo above or see it here.

THANK YOU for being an integral part of UAF's mission, and for making an impact on our students and programs. Your support is vital to the success of Alaska’s first university. Your dedication to UAF is reflected in our top-notch programs, world-renowned research, diverse outreach and essential scholarships. You are changing lives and inspiring future leaders.

“For me, receiving a scholarship meant everything. I couldn’t have continued college without it, and I wouldn’t have been able to pay for school. Thank you for helping me.”— Hayley Baksis, music major

“From a young age I have known what I want to do with my life. I want to give back to the world, find ways to improve the lives of those around me, and understand and apply the knowledge of how things work to improve our quality of life.”— Lisa Anders, electrical engineering major

“I look around everyday and ask myself what I can do for this great state. Nothing would please me more than to finish a doctoral degree and find a job here. I hope that particular dream of mine comes true.”—Sean Egan ’10, chemistry

View the full 2011 Celebration of Giving program, including a listing of past honorees, here.