November 17, 2011
Usibelli Coal Mine contributed $64,000 to UAF's Community and Technical College to establish an endowment for a diesel/heavy equipment scholarship. One student will receive $6,000 each year.
Chancellor Rogers, Vice Chancellor Bernice Joseph and staff participated in an afternoon dialogue with several Alaska Native lawyers, the Alaska Federation of Natives, and representatives of Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law about career pathways for Alaska Native students.
The Arctic Health Research Building Greenhouse is 95 percent complete. A ribbon cutting is scheduled Nov. 22.
Fifteen students graduated from UAF's Community and Technical College Law Enforcement Academy Nov. 11. More than 350 students have graduated from the 13-week academy since 2001.
MAP aquaculture specialist Ray RaLonde, along with the Department of Natural Resources on Annette Island Reserve and the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery, completed a seven-year study on the feasibility of geoduck farming. Metlakatla has plans for its first large-scale commercial farm; geoduck farming has a global demand valued at more than $100 million annually.
Computer science students are accepting proposals for software design projects. The projects allow students to gain real-world experience while local government, non-profit and private organizations gain software free of charge. Students have developed more than 65 successful projects in the last 20 years.
More than a dozen student-led sustainability projects, totaling nearly $44,000 will be funded through the RISE board. Preference is given to energy efficiency programs and renewable energy projects.
The School of Education and the Math in a Cultural Context program hosted in November an international workshop in indigenous knowledge applying to math. The workshop was supported in part by BP/Conoco Phillips and the Research Council of Norway.
The Kolmakovsky Russian blockhouse, built in 1841, has been preserved. In 2009, the National Park Service awarded the UA Museum of the North $75,000 to preserve the Kolmakovsky collection.
More than six-dozen sixth-graders participated this fall in the I m Going to College Program sponsored by Financial Aid at UAF's Community and Technical College.
A dozen students and as many parents and/or guests attended the Discover UAF: Honors and Scholars event last weekend, including students from Soldotna, Chugiak, Wasilla and Anchorage.
UAF participated in Remembrance Day National Roll Call on Veterans Day. The Fairbanks campus joined the rest of the nation in a moment of silence, and the roll call ended with a three-volley rifle salute.
The UAF telethon program, which kicked off Oct. 30, has raised nearly $3,000 from 23 donors by Nov. 11. Student callers spent the first few days thanking UAF supporters and will continue through Dec. 8. The effort follows a direct mail appeal highlighting UAF's last 100 years.
Honors program students will be sleeping in tents on the UAF campus for a week in November to increase awareness about area homelessness. The students will raise money for a local outreach program for homeless teens.
The Northern Studies student club hosted a workshop to familiarize people with the draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Speakers talked about land management and how to offer input on the future of ANWR.
To celebrate Geography Awareness Week, Fairbanks will host the second annual GeoFest, an educational family event Saturday, Nov. 19 at the UAF Wood Center.
Mzuri Moyo visited UAF Nov. 17 for a civil rights presentation. Her one-woman show highlights the struggles of singer and actress Fannie Lou Hamer to gain the right for African-Americans to vote.
The Staff Council is now accepting nominations for the Chancellor's Cornerstone Award, which recognizes staff for outstanding contributions to UAF. Visit the Chancellor's Cornerstone award page to nominate someone.
Alumni events took place Oct. 29 in Austin, Texas, and Nov. 7 in Baltimore, Md.