June 5, 2019

MEDIA ADVISORY
June 5, 2019

University of Alaska and the Board of Regents recognize the 20th anniversary of the UA Scholars Program and Alaskan academic achievement

Who: University of Alaska Board of Regents, UA President Jim Johnsen, past and present UA Scholars, legislators and other university officials.

The media is invited to attend this event. However, the event is for UA Scholars and guests by invitation only.

What: The 20th anniversary of the UA Scholars program will be recognized by the UA Board of Regents in honor of the 8,900 UA Scholars who have benefited from the merit scholarship since the program began, including an estimated 3,000 of them who were the first in their families to attend college.

When: A reception from 5:30 -7 p.m. on Thursday, June 6. The UA Scholars reception follows the Board of Regents meeting.

Where: University House 431 Gold Dust Drive in Fairbanks. Shuttles to the event will be available after 5 p.m. from the Butrovich Building. Parking is not available at the University House.

Background:

The UA Scholars Program is a merit-based scholarship program, established in 1999 by former UA President Mark Hamilton. Students ranked in the top 10% of their qualified Alaska high school receive a total of $12,000, which may be used to attend any of the University of Alaska’s 16 campuses.The Award encourages students throughout Alaska to attend and graduate from the University of Alaska. Funding is provided by revenue from the university’s Land Grant Trust Fund.

The UA Scholars Program has transformed higher education in Alaska by rewarding academic achievement and attracting top Alaskan students to the University of Alaska. Before the program was created, only about 10 percent of the state’s top high school graduates choose to attend the University of Alaska. That number is now 41 percent.

The UA Scholars Program has been successful at attracting students from rural communities. The opportunity to attend college prepares them to become leaders in their home communities and serve as ambassadors between their communities and the university.

Recently, the Alaska Legislature passed a citation that recognized the success and impact of the UA Scholars program.

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For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs at 907-360-2416 (cell).