January 21, 1997

Alaska Airlines to Award Travel Scholarships to University of Alaska Students

January 21, 1997  NR 01-1997

The University of Alaska Foundation announced today that it will award 100 travel scholarships to graduating high school seniors to attend a University of Alaska campus next fall.

The scholarships are made possible by Alaska Airlines, which will provide round-trip travel at no cost to scholarship recipients during the 1997-98 school year. Recipients will also have the opportunity to renew the scholarships for each of the following three years, enabling them to complete a four-year degree program.

"Alaska Airlines' generous contribution will make it possible for these students to pursue higher education in Alaska," said Jerome B. Komisar, president of the University of Alaska system. "We appreciate the airline's support of these students as well as its support of the University of Alaska."
Bill MacKay, Alaska Airlines' vice president of public affairs, concurred.

"These scholarships are an investment in the future of the state of Alaska," MacKay said. "By enabling these students to attend the University of Alaska, we are helping the next generation of Alaskans to acquire skills they'll need to prosper in the next century."

Recipients will receive a round-trip ticket between the Alaska Airlines-served airport nearest their home and the Alaska Airlines destination nearest the University of Alaska campus of the student's choice.

Eligibility will be determined by each University of Alaska campus. Candidates will be identified by the university when students apply for admission or when they apply for financial aid. Criteria for determining a student's eligibility includes:

• Graduation from an Alaska high school with at least a 2.5 grade point average;
• Acceptance at a University of Alaska campus; and,
• A need for travel assistance based on the distance from the student's home to the University of Alaska campus of their choice.

A systemwide university scholarship committee will make the final determination on the allocation of the scholarships to ensure that the applicant pool represents students from as many parts of Alaska as possible.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Bob Miller 907-474-7272