For Immediate Release
Friday, March 2, 2007

The University of Alaska College Savings Plan will provide $4,000 worth of college scholarships to the winners of the Junior World Ice Art Championships to be held in Fairbanks March 13-15.

The UA College Savings Plan is sponsoring 10 spaces in the junior competition. The event invites students to form two-member teams to compete in either the Abstract or Realistic Categories.  The College Savings Plan will award a scholarship to each team member in each category:  $500 to first-place winners; $300 to second-place winners; and $200 to third-place winners. The UA College Savings Plan will set up scholarship accounts for each winner.  The awards ceremony is set for 8 p.m., March 16.

"Having the UA College Savings Plan step forward to provide scholarships as prizes for our young artists is a dream come true," said Mimi Chapin, ice sculpting instructor for Ice Alaska. "It is so important to send the right message to our children, and I can't think of a more positive message than rewarding these great kids with college scholarships."

The junior competition was held for the first time in 2006 with five, two-member teams from three area high schools. There have been 10 spaces set aside for the 2007 event with a goal of having statewide competitors. Ice Alaska artists have developed an ice sculpture curriculum taught in local schools. Classes will be offered in Fairbanks at the Ice Park off Phillips Field Road prior to the competition. For more information about the classes, go to www.icealaska.com.

To qualify for the competition, team members must be enrolled in 9th through 12th grade. Teams are provided an ice block weighing approximately 3,600 pounds. Once the ice block is placed, the sculpting team may not use motorized tools or equipment to move it. Experienced artists will be on hand to answer questions and offer technical assistance.

"We are pleased to encourage students to develop their ice sculpting skills in a competition setting," said College Savings Plan Director Linda English. "At the same time, it is rewarding to us that we are encouraging these talented students to challenge themselves in an art form that is uniquely Alaskan. We're also proud that we're helping the students gain scholarships toward the college of their choice."

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More information: Bonnie Carroll, UA College Savings Plan, 907/450-8114 or Mimi Chapin, Ice Alaska, 907/455-6408.  Registration forms can be printed at www.icealaska.com. Parental permission is required.