Did you know that people often fall in love with, or at, their respective universities? In an effort to share the sentiments that people have for their alma mater, the University of Alaska Fairbanks recently launched a project to solicit and collect specific student and alum stories through a project called “Show Your Love.” 

The project asks to hear from those who met their spouse or partner while in college, or who fell in love with an area of study while a student. UAF is asking: Did your time at UAF make you fall in love with this community and decide to raise your family here? 

To read some of the love letters submitted to date, just click on the photos found at: https://www.facebook.com/uafairbanks/posts/10159673008219844. Here are some of the stories received: 

• Philip Richardson, Lynden, WA: "It was here at the University of Alaska in college that I discovered who I was and had the freedom I never experienced while in my hometown. It was at the university that I grew up and experienced all the things I should have experienced in high school... I enjoyed my entire time at [UAF] with memories and friendships to last a lifetime… I shall forever be grateful for the time I spent there during those undergraduate days. Ad Summum!"
   
• Jennifer Adams, Soldotna, AK:"My entire family loves UAF and we have all graduated with a degree from UAF! I earned my undergraduate degree and MBA from UAF, my parents both earned degrees from UAF and all of my siblings earned a degree from UAF. We are an entire family of UAF graduates who love and support the University!"
   
• Liam Wescott, Fairbanks, AK: "While going to school at the University of Alaska, he met and fell in love with a young Alaska Native woman from the lower Kuskokwim area, who had come to the University to study education. They got married and settled down to raise a family in Fairbanks. That young man was my dad, Eugene Wescott, who came to the University of Alaska in 1958 and stayed here until his retirement from the Geophysical Institute in 2009. He passed away in 2014.The young woman is my mother, Betty Parent, who graduated with a degree in education and went on to be an educator.They met here, at UAF. I would not be here if it was not for UAF." 
   
• Marine Vanlandeghem Gillespie, Fairbanks, AK:"...we are in love with this campus, the atmosphere, and the beautiful people around us. Thank you for making this place such a great place to live and for providing so many resources for families to grow."
   
• Jennifer Tilbury, Fairbanks, AK: “In 1995, I was visiting with some friends at Bartlett Hall and in the door walked my future husband, Ryan. Our first date was to a holiday concert at Davis Hall. I remember being so nervous! We dated through college— I have so many memories of attending events at the pub,  studying together in the Wood Center over some pizza, and so much more. We both earned our bachelor degrees and our master degrees at UAF. When we married in 2000, many of our university professors who had become our mentors and friends attended our wedding.”
   
• David Merritt, Anchorage, AK: “I started my MBA at UAF in 2017 with the goal of creating a better life for myself and my family. Throughout this time I learned many important skills and concepts that have transitioned me into the professional entrepreneur I am today. Since earning my MBA, I was able to take those skills and build a business from scratch. I now own and operate a premier online tutoring business called “Happy Go Tutoring.” We are flourishing, and I have the MBA program and UAF to thank! Go Nanooks!!”