Usibelli Coal Mine announces $75,000 gift to support Nanook athletes
November 14, 2018
Lisa Herbert
907-347-8006
Usibelli Coal Mine announced a gift of $75,000 to create the UCM Nanook Athlete Support
Fund for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics Department on Tuesday, Nov.
13 at the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce business luncheon.
This gift will help UAF provide a prominent and high-functioning space for more than
120 student-athletes across all sports. Lisa Herbert, vice president of public relations
for Usibelli Coal Mine, announced the gift following UAF Chancellor Daniel White’s
annual “State of the University” presentation to the business community. Herbert said,
“We are excited to support UAF in their efforts to provide Nanook athletes with the
facilities, training and support they need to compete with the top athletic programs
in the conference and country.”
Since June of this year, UAF has been remodeling 2,000 square feet of dedicated space
in the Patty Center for student-athletes. "This donation will help us complete the
space by adding branded squat racks, benches, universal machines, training systems
and more," said Sterling Steward, Jr., director of athletics for the Alaska Nanooks.
The remodel should be completed by mid-December.
"All of our student-athletes are appreciated members of the Nanook family," said Steward.
Athlete-specific training areas and weight rooms play a critical role in preparing
student-athletes for competition throughout the year. They can also be one of the
many factors that potential student-athletes look at when making a decision as to
where to attend school. "This new energizing space will greatly enhance the experience
of our student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff and will assure potential recruits
of UAF's commitment to excellence and success," said Steward.
Usibelli Coal Mine is celebrating 75 years this year and is Alaska’s longest operating
mine. UCM has been a steady supporter and long-time partner to UAF. Through its corporate
social responsibility program, the Usibelli Foundation and personal gifts from members
of the Usibelli family, more than $4.8 million has been donated to the University
through scholarships, faculty awards, capital projects, event sponsorships and athletics.
“We are grateful for Usibelli Coal Mine’s extraordinary support for the University
and Nanook athletics,” said UAF Chancellor White. “This gift demonstrates how academics,
athletics and the business community can work together to impact the health, success
and pride of our students, our alumni and the community of Fairbanks.”
“We are pleased to be in a position to provide support to the UAF student-athletes
who represent us so proudly on the ice, court or field, in the classroom and out in
the world. We hope this gift inspires others who love Nanook sports teams to support
them in whatever way they can,” Herbert said.
About Usibelli Coal Mine
Founded in 1943 by Emil Usibelli, Usibelli Coal Mine is located near the town of Healy
and is 115 miles south of Fairbanks and 250 miles north of Anchorage adjacent to the
Parks Highway and Alaska Railroad. UCM currently has a work force of approximately
100 employees, and operates year-round. Mine production has grown from 10,000 tons
in 1943 to approximately 1-million tons of coal per year. Currently the only operational
coal mine in Alaska, UCM is supported by the most modern mining equipment and state-of-the-art
engineering. Today, UCM supplies coal to five Interior Alaska power plants and over
the years has exported coal to Chile, South Korea, Japan and several other Pacific
Rim destinations. For more information, please visit www.usibelli.com.
For more information, contact Lisa Herbert, vice president of public relations at
907-347-8006 (cell) or lisa@usibelli.com.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks, follow @AlaskaNanooks on Twitter or like
the Alaska Nanooks page on Facebook.