Spring 2026
From the chancellor
Dear UAF community,
At UAF, we are built on vision, mission and a legacy of commitment and giving. We honor each of these central pillars of our university each day.
Our vision, mission and legacy of giving is nurtured, enabled, advanced and realized through the tireless efforts of the many members of the UAF Alumni Association. For nearly a century, the UAF Alumni Association has established an enduring commitment to UAF students. In 2026, the association awarded a record high of $15,000 in grants to student organizations, helping revive programs like Sigma Tau Delta, strengthen academic communities and ensure students have access to the tools and experiences that make campus life meaningful. As the association looks ahead to its centennial in 2027, a new $100,000 Centennial Gift campaign is building the foundation for the next 100 years of impact.
We also honor the legacy of individuals like former music professor David Stech, whose commitment to UAF continues to shape our future. Professor Stech, who taught at UAF from 1972 to 2008, left a $75,000 bequest to endow a scholarship fund for keyboard students. With additional contributions, the endowment has grown beyond $100,000 and will soon support students pursuing their passion for music. In November 2025, we dedicated the Davis Concert Hall’s Gress-Miles pipe organ in his memory — a fitting tribute to a teacher, scholar and musician whose influence will resonate for generations to come.
These stories remind us that philanthropy takes many forms at UAF. From rebuilding student organizations and supporting research symposia to endowing scholarships that open new doors of discovery — reaching every corner of our community. It preserves our history while honoring those who devoted their lives to teaching and learning.
When alumni give, when faculty provide enduring gifts and when our community rallies around students, we are doing more than supporting programs — we are strengthening AVÀÇÂÛ̳’s future.
Thank you for investing in UAF and the generations of Nanooks who will carry the legacy forward.
Mike Sfraga ’84, ’97
Interim Chancellor
University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks
America’s Arctic University
Recent benefactor highlights
Businesses, corporations, individuals and foundations give generously to UAF.
This report reflects gifts and donations totaling $25,000 or more to the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks between Dec. 1, 2025, and Jan. 31, 2026.
BUSINESS AND CORPORATE
AgWest Farm Credit gave to the AgWest Food System Stability in AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fund and the Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Endowment.
At-Sea Processor Association members Glacier Fish Company and American Seafoods Company gave to the Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center Endowment.
Bering Straits Native Corporation gave to the Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Studies Initiative Support Fund.
CCI Industrial gave to the Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Endowment and the Bristol Bay Campus Support Fund.
Calista Corporation gave to the Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Studies Initiative Support Fund.
and the AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Sea Grant Program Support Fund.
Climate 2025 Ltd. gave to the Natural Resources and Environment Support Fund.
Matson Navigation Company gave to the Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Studies Initiative Support Fund.
Northrim Bank gave to the CBSM Business Leader of the Year and the Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Studies Initiative Support Fund.
Spirit of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Credit Union gave to the UAF CBSM Student Support Fund and the UAF CBSM Spirit of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ FCU Scholarship.
Usibelli Coal Mine gave to the University Fire Department Support Fund and the Institute of Northern Engineering Support Fund.
INDIVIDUAL
An anonymous donor gave to the Huang Family Endowed Scholarship.
John and Jane Aspnes gave to the John and Jane Aspnes Electrical and Computer Engineering Professorship and the Jane and John Aspnes Music Professorship.
Dr. Walt and Marita Babula gave to the Dr. Walt & Marita Babula Children's Garden and the UAMN Planetarium and K-12 Space Science Endowment.
Michelle H. Bartlett gave to Summer Sessions.
William and Andrea Benitz gave to the Jack Distad Memorial Scholarship.
Robert Cassell gave to the Friends of Museum Earth Sciences
Jeffrey Dunn gave to the David Burnett Dunn Memorial Endowment.
Stanley and Ellen Fayer gave to the Dr. Ronald Fayer Memorial Endowed Fellowship.
Neville A. Jacobs gave to the KUAC General Operating Budget Fund.
Richard and Rachel Kacsur gave to the Kacsur Family Endowed Scholarship.
Eleanor J. Kelley gave to the John and Eleanor Kelley Oceanographic Science Endowed Fellowship.
Alice O'Dell gave to the O’Dell Family Veterinary Medicine Endowed Scholarship.
Carole Reeve gave to the ACUASI General Support Fund and the Richard D. Reeve Scholarship in honor of Lt. Col. Alanson Bartholomew.
Sarah J. Rixie gave to the Chase Rixie Memorial Scholarship for Electrical Engineering.
David and Alexandra Sonneborn gave to the Ornithology Endowment.
Glenna J. Wood gave to the Glenna Wood Excellence in Systems Integration and Analytics Fund.
FOUNDATION AND ASSOCIATION
The Bill Stroecker Foundation gave to the Bill Stroecker Accounting Scholarship, the Bill Stroecker Brass Scholarship, the Marion Weeks and Bill Stroecker Scholarship, the Bill Stroecker Petroleum Engineering Scholarship, the Bill Stroecker MBA Scholarship and the Stroecker-Weeks Shooting Sports Endowment.
The Jim and Vicki Jansen Foundation gave to the UAF Lynden Diesel and Heavy Equipment Certificate Scholarship.
The Johnson Scholarship Foundation gave to the Johnson Scholarship Foundation Business Scholarship.
The Scan Design Foundation gave to the International Arctic Research Center Support Fund.
The George and Stephanie Suddock Foundation gave to the Museum Annual Fund.
The UAF Hockey Alumni Association gave to the Nanook Facilities and Equipment Futures Fund and the UAF Hockey Alumni Association Scholarship for Men's Nanook Hockey.
* Indicates deceased
Stories of impact
Mar 03
From record student grants to a $100K centennial campaign, UAF alumni are investing in today’s students and the next 100 years.
Mar 02
UAF has dedicated the Davis Concert Hall’s pipe organ to the memory of David Stech.
Dec 10
Walt and Marita Babula’s stellar donation set in motion the latest addition to the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Museum of the North.
Nov 21
Fairbanks came together on Oct. 23 to honor UAF’s student firefighters and help them cover costs far into the future.
Nov 19
UAF’s GeoFORCE program takes high school students across the country to learn about the Earth’s fantastic formations.
Sep 09
The Circumpolar Music Series, created with help from writer and musician Catherine Madsen, forms connections across the North.
Sep 05
Nancy Eliason, a 52-year AVÀÇÂÛ̳n, assists researchers from UAF and elsewhere who study the people of ancient Beringia.
May 21
Kendall Kramer wraps up five years at UAF with a stellar senior season, winning the collegiate and national championship 20K freestyle races.
May 12
The fifth annual online event set a new participation milestone as donors supported more than 80 UAF programs, scholarships and initiatives.
Feb 28
The Mining Engineering Research Endowment, backed by companies, gives scholarships to UAF students working on innovative, sustainable mining practices.
Feb 28
Roger Burggraf’s extraordinary donation advances the effort to preserve AVÀÇÂÛ̳’s golden history.
Dec 04
The annual Blue & Gold Celebration raised scholarship funds, while AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Tuesday supported the UAF Food Pantry.
Dec 04
Frank Ostanik ’93 is working his connections with communities in AVÀÇÂÛ̳ and beyond.
Aug 15
Donor scholarships have transformative impacts on students across UAF’s wide array of academic programs.
Aug 14
A gift from Usibelli Coal Mine helped create a 2.5K route that meets official competition standards